Dogs

In this and upcoming articles, Paw Nation shadows Billy Ma as he attends the Canine Assistants Training Camp to meet his new service dog and learn how the dog can help him by turning on lights, pulling his wheelchair and, hopefully, becoming his best friend.

MILTON, GA. - On a sweltering morning in July, the service dogs are pacing in their cages while the lucky dozen children who have made it off the assistance dog waiting list were making their way to the first day of training camp. Some with wheelchairs or walkers, others leaning on their parents, the kids have traveled from as far as California to the Canine Assistants headquarters north of Atlanta.

One of the younger recipients is 11-year-old Billy Ma, a smiling boy with glasses from Columbus, Ohio. He was born with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a devastating genetic disease that causes progressive muscle deterioration. Doctors say he will stop walking in a couple of years, and the disease will eventually attack his heart and lungs so a service dog will become increasingly helpful -- and necessary -- in his life.

How the Dogs Can Help
From the time they are newborns to about 18 months old, the golden and Labrador retriever mixes at Canine Assistants are prepared to be service dogs. They can open doors, turn on lights, tug off a child's socks or push a button to call 911. A lot of them can sense a seizure before it happens, and go get help. Many of the dogs can even push dirty clothes into a washing machine and take clean clothes out of the dryer with their paws.

"Dogs have basically one purpose in life, and that is to make us happy. They're very easy to teach," says Canine Assistants founder Jennifer Arnold, author of the new book "Through a Dog's Eyes" and the subject of a PBS documentary by the same name. The documentary will have its second airing Sept. 8 at 8 p.m. EDT on PBS.

While the tasks are impressive, Arnold and others tell Paw Nation that the truly magical thing about assistance dogs is what they do for a child's spirit. Just by being there, the creatures are able to make a child's feelings of fear, isolation and loneliness disappear.

We love all dogs at Paw Nation. Working dogs, show dogs, shaggy dogs and chic dogs. But it's the last two types on the list that you'll find in these "before" and "after" dog-grooming photos.

We took an adorable 10-year-old Pomeranian named Cassidy -- who had gone six months since her last trim -- and sent her to the New York Dog Spa and Hotel for a professional grooming. In an hour and a half, groomer Jacky Luong transformed this cutie from au naturel to clipped down and styled.

The process took a while. Cassidy's owner had been in the hospital, so the dog hadn't had her regular grooming. Because Cassidy's hair was long and tangled, Luong first completed a rough cut with clippers to make the fur more manageable. Then, with the aid of shampoo, clippers and lots of hand scissoring, Luong sculpted the fur into what's called a "slight lion cut."

To see Cassidy's transformation, click on the green arrows on the "before" picture below and, while holding the mouse button down, slide the arrow to the right to the see the "after" shot revealed. Slide it back to the left again to see how Cassidy started out.

Here at Paw Nation, we know that every pet has a story, and it's usually a story their owners just love to tell. So we decided to hit the streets to ask pets (and their owners) about everything from how they were adopted to what was the naughtiest thing they've ever done. It's our weekly series, "Pet On The Street."

This week we're in Las Vegas asking people if they and their dogs look, think or behave alike.

What about you? Are you and your pets alike? Tell us in the comments below!

Lea Michele is best-known for her hilarious portrayal of high-school student/diva Rachel Berry on "Glee," and now, perhaps, for her fabulous look at the Emmy Awards. But the breakout star is also a devoted animal lover with some serious rescue credibility.

Michele told People Magazine that she saved six stray kittens in the Paramount Studios lot. While she was able to keep two of them, she found homes for the rest with one of them going to "Glee" co-star Heather Morris, who plays Brittany on the show. Additionally, upon seeing a dog chained to a fence during a shoot at a nearby school, she worked with the folks at "Glee" to get the pooch veterinary care and, eventually, a home with another co-star.

Michele gets her inspiration from her family. "My mother always said, 'Stand for something, or [you'll] fall for everything.' I feel like [animals] don't have a voice." Well, anyone who has watched "Glee" or seen Michele on Broadway knows that voice is one thing this woman has in spades. We hope she continues to use it to advocate for animals.

Name: Toki Wartooth

Location: Gainesville, Fla.

Age: 1

Favorite Toy: His monkey.

Likes: Visiting his grandmom and playing in her yard.

Dislikes: Masks. Halloween is terrifying.

Fun Fact: Toki was rescued off the streets of Gainesville along with his 11 siblings and mother. A wonderful group of people nursed them back to health and found safe, happy homes for all of them.

Congratulations to our submitter, mzgatorfan. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!

More Cute Pets