[pyrnet] CHAT: TV producer looking for "Dogs with Jobs"

[Shirley McGreal <spm@awod.com>]

Anyone interested, please contact Erin directly. Thanks, Shirley McGreal

PS, does anyone know what a "Gos d'Atura" is?

Date: Thu, 30 May 2002 10:39:22 -0400
Subject: Conservation work with Dogs?
To: ippl@awod.com
From: "Erin Downey" <edowney@cineflix.com>

I am a researcher from Canada with a television program Dogs with Jobs,
the first in-depth documentary series to bring viewers into the world of
dogs who work for a living. I am interested in learning more about
wildlife conservation programs that employ dogs in the program. The dogs
would probably work either in detection or as guard animals. I was
hoping there could be a good segment for our show, but first, let me tell
you a bit about our program.

Each episode of Dogs With Jobs captures three hard-working and loyal dogs
who help people in an astonishing variety of ways ­ as rescuers &
helpmates, entertainers & TV stars, herders & heroes, therapists &
athletes … and of course, lifelong friends and companions. We are in our
fourth season and we are shown in 44 countries around the world on
National Geographic International.

In previous seasons viewers met dogs like Birba, a poodle in Italy who
snuffles out truffles; Killu, a Gos d’Atura who herds sheep in the Spanish
Pyrenees; Tracker, a beagle in Florida who detects termites before they do
billions of dollars of damage; Harvey, a black mutt in England who can
predict when his owner will have an epileptic seizure; Tillie the artist,
a Jack Russell Terrier who’s got tongues wagging on the New York art
scene; Tokkolos, a Jack Russell terrier in Namibia who plays surrogate mom
to orphaned cheetah cubs; Yukon, a White Shepherd who patrols the Swiss
Alps and rescues avalanche victims; King, a German Shepherd in Bosnia who
finds landmines; Petro, a German Shepherd who rushed to Turkey after the
earthquake in the summer of ’99 to search for survivors; Basil, a Kelpie
in Australia who looks after a flock of 8,000 sheep in the Australian
outback; Tombre, a Lab-Retriever in Portland who helped her young autistic
master come out of his shell.

We are always interested in different dog stories and some of our
favourite stories from last year were ones about Eco-dogs. Last year we
did a couple of stories about dogs being used to monitor bear activity and
help dissuade bears from coming in contact with humans. We have also
done a story about cheetah conservation in Namibia in previous seasons.
As a member of the International Primate Protection League, I was thinking
that you would have your finger on the beat of any cutting edge
environmental work that dogs are doing! I'd really appreciate any
assistance.

Thank you so much in advance for your assistance, and any leads or
contact numbers would be great!

Erin Downey
Researcher
Dogs with Jobs
(514) 278-3140 ex 103
edowney@cineflix.com