The Human Factor


Harvey Sobel and Canine CPR

by Marilyn Mangion

For anyone who has been alarmed by a sick pet, or come across an injured dog and agonized over what to do, Harvey Sobel's Canine CPR/First Aid Course could be a real lifesaver. Designed for "people who love their pets," the course is based on a comprehensive, user-friendly manual developed by Mr. Sobel. The course is being offered in the Portland, Oregon area.

The veteran CPR instructor expanded his expertise to cover canines when students in his classes began asking, "What about my dog? Can I apply this to my pet?" Mr. Sobel, who, as the CPR and "Wellness" Coordinator for the Portland VA Medical Center, has taught CPR to human groups of all kinds, was a little apprehensive at first. But the "pet" questions were asked so frequently, he decided he better acquaint himself with procedures appropriate for animal emergencies.

He started communicating with veterinary clinics, and they responded positively, faxing him information. He also logged many hours at the library, reading "loads of books - everything I could get my hands on that had information about first aid for animals."

The resulting manual, which each class participant receives, will enable a person to quickly determine which symptoms constitute an emergency, and to apply the step-by-step instructions to the particular situation. The emergencies covered include frostbite, animal bite, heatstroke, poison, burns, drug ingestion, wounds, fractures, choking and bleeding.

The main objective of his CPR class is to help create a mindset of humaneness in regards to animals. "If enough people become serious about providing information on saving the lives of animals, maybe the importance of it will rub off on people.

Harvey Sobel, who feels a kinship with all living things ("except cockroaches - there are limits!"), believes that all CPR instructors should venture into animal CPR. "We're all living entities," he says. He also would like to see veterinarians go into the elementary schools and introduce children to a compassionate attitude towards animals, saying "Animals need love and feel pain, and here's what you do in a medical emergency."

Since there is currently no dog CPR mannequin available, Mr. Sobel is working on a prototype. Other projects include expanding his Canine course to cover felines. The number of pet cats in America exceeds that of dogs, and to Mr. Sobel, that signals a need to include cats in his programs.

Jumping in where there's a need has been a way of life for Harvey Sobel, so it isn't surprising that this energetic, youthful-looking 50-year old was the one to recognize the need for a Canine CPR course and develop a manual for it. Mr. Sobel has felt a personal imperative "to help" since he was a kid growing up in New York.

His mother was a practical nurse in their low-income neighborhood, and when a late night knock on the door signalled a medical emergency somewhere, off she would dash, Harvey at her heels. "She was like a shaman," says Mr. Sobel. "I admired her."

In later years Harvey Sobel would act in a similar vein, dropping whatever he was doing to help out. Whether heading for Alaska to help Indian tribes with drug and alcohol problems, teaching English to Haitians in Florida, or teaching CPR to Portland immigrants with poor English skills, Harvey was constantly serving humanity. "It's my nature to be concerned about people," says Mr. Sobel. "I don't like seeing them abused, physically or emotionally."

He feels the same concern for animals. His bond with animals began with a neighborhood "cart" horse when Harvey was seven. He loved that horse, and couldn't wait to get out of school so he could feed overripe fruit to him.

One day he raced off and found his friend moaning in the street after being hit by a car. Harvey watched helplessly as the horse suffered; it eventually was put down. "My whole world crumbled," says Mr. Sobel. It had a very early deep effect on me."

Many years later, when Mr. Sobel was in the Air Force in North Africa, he went to Madrid with some Spanish friends. He watched as the bull was being weakened by being "bled" - the back of its neck was punctured so that its head would stay low and in "charging" position. After a while Harvey exclaimed, " This isn't a fair fight!" The friends angrily took exception, stating it WAS fair because it was the bull's strength pitted against the matador's intelligence.

"BUT," said Harvey, "You're weakening the brawn of the bull (by bleeding it), so you should weaken the mind of the matador by drugging him - then it would be a fair fight!"

A happier animal story involved Harvey's beloved childhood dog - a spitz/fox terrier named "Rusty." Harvey found the stray in the street and ran home and asked his mother if he could keep him. When she gave him the standard "you'll have to ask your father" reply, he was crushed. "I had my fingers crossed," says Harvey, "as my dad was a hard, serious Russian from the Ukraine."

As Dad and dog were introduced, Harvey was tense. "I stood there staring down at Rusty, and Rusty stared up at my dad, and the first thing Rusty did was pee on his shoe!" Harvey thought, "Well, that's it," but to his delight, his dad roared out laughing. "He thought that was the greatest thing he'd ever seen. He respected Rusty for being upfront."

Today, Mr. Sobel's love of dogs is shown not only in his Canine CPR class but in the dog rescues he routinely performs in the summer, when unthinking dog owners park their pooches in hot cars with inadequate ventilation. "Don't ask me how many car windows I've broken," says Mr. Sobel. "Dogs perspire through their mouths, and cracking the window 1/2" in 90 degree weather isn't going to do it." True to his kind spirit, he pays for the windows he breaks.

When Harvey Sobel is asked about the strength of his commitment to helping both people and animals, he shrugs his shoulders with impatience. "I'm nothing special," he says. "You walk down the street, you see something in front of you, you do something about it, and you go on with your life. So what's the big deal?"

Ever an optimist, he tires of the media emphasizing negative events and people. "I've met people who have a propensity for doing good things - for respecting the earth and all living things. There are wonderful people out there and they're doing great things."

For more Information on Harvey's CPR courses call: (503) 273-5171