Lily, the Pit Bull Ambassador, promotes pet safety

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - Lily, The Woodlands 4-legged goodwill pit bull ambassador, has been lending a paw teaching children pet safety. Being both a registered Pet Partners Therapy Dog and a certified Reading Education Assistance Dog, Lily is more than qualified to spread this message. She accomplishes this by distributing activity/coloring books that show children how to act in a responsible and safe manner around dogs.

The “Fido Friend or Foe” coloring/activity book is a collaboration between Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and the State Farm Insurance Company. The activity book addresses the ‘Do’s and Don’ts of Dog Safety,’ teaching responsible pet ownership in a way that children can relate to and understand. To assist Lily in getting her message to the masses, 1000 of the activity/coloring books were donated by State Farm agent, Dan Johnston, who has been an agent in The Woodlands for thirty-five years, located in the Panther Creek Shopping Center.

An unlikely messenger, Lily was surrendered to the Montgomery County Animal Shelter as a puppy by a breeder that didn’t like her litter’s markings. Lily knows firsthand what it’s like to be discriminated against, not only for her markings, but because of her breed. In addition to promoting pet safety and responsible pet ownership, she also shares this message when participating in community service events.

Lily feels that partnering with State Farm Insurance was a dog-gone good idea. State Farm is one of the very few insurance companies that does not discriminate against what the majority of the insurance industry refers to as the “bully breeds,” like pit bulls, rottweilers, and doberman pinschers. Each dog is judged as an individual and by its behavioral history, not by its breed or stereotype. Johnston’s agency demonstrates its dog-friendly attitude through company policy…insurance policies, that is.

The tendency to shop the ‘bottom line’ in order to get the lowest insurance premium could leave Fido out in the cold. Even worse homeowners without a health insurance clause on homeowners' insurance may be denied coverage for claims that weren’t even related to the animal.

“The presence of some breeds in a household will result in exclusions on policies, denying health coverage claims regardless of the circumstances,” said Rebecca Franke, of Johnston’s State Farm Insurance team. “Even if the dog wasn’t involved.”

Franke cited a incident where a medical claim was denied by another insurance provider, unrelated to the pet, in fact, the family no longer had the dog. Homeowners are often forced to give up their beloved pets due to the conditions of their homeowners’ insurance policy.

“We were dropped by an insurance carrier because of Lily, despite the fact that she is a therapy dog with a proven track record,” said Lily’s human counterpart. “Fortunately we were able to obtain a different policy.”

In addition to working with children and other emerging readers, Lily also visits physically disabled children at a local physical rehabilitation facility, and even seniors with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Most recently, Lily distributed the activity books at the Memorial Hermann Baby Fair in The Woodlands. She will also distribute them at several upcoming events which include: two local elementary school assemblies through the “Dogs of Character” program, the “Walk on the Wild Side,” ExxonMobil’s upcoming annual children’s event at the Aquarium in Houston on October 5, and at PetFest in Old Town Spring on October 19, where Lily will be at the Canine Celebrity Booth from 12-2:30 p.m.

Lily invites the community to follow her community service on her Woodlands Online blog titled, “Canine Musings by Lily, Pit Bull Ambassador & Therapy Dog”, and ‘Friend’ her on Facebook at Lily, Pit Bull Ambassador & Therapy Dog. Contact Lily to arrange a visit or to donate to her collection drive for the Montgomery County Animal Shelter.

While the kids are coloring and learning about pet safety, it would be a good time to get the homeowners policy out and check to make sure the coverage includes the whole family, including the four-legged members.