TIPS FOR STARTING A THERAPY DOG PROGRAM IN YOUR FACILITY

As most of my regular readers know, my Siberian Husky Icy and I are a Therapy Dog team.  We've been volunteering as an animal therapy team since 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona and across Long Island, New York.  There is nothing I love more than giving back to my community with my dog by my side! It's the most rewarding thing I've ever done.

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Icy waiting for the reading to dogs program at the library to start

Over the years I have learned a lot about how to successfully manage a facility therapy dog program in libraries and schools.  I'd like to share my personal insights to help both people who run therapy dog programs, or plan to start one, and for people whose children may benefit from a therapy animal program.

THERAPY DOGS IN LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS

I have visited many libraries and schools and they are all run differently.  Most animal therapy organizations allow their member facilities to run their programs in the way that best suits them and their customers. The guidelines facilities must follow to remain in compliance usually don't include guidelines around the physical space they chooses to use for the program, or exactly how they manage the animal therapy visits.  That is both good and bad. 

It's nice to have the flexibility to manage the program in the way that best meets the needs of their participants, but some facilities do a better job of making pet therapy visits more enjoyable and effective.  Let me share some examples and tips with you.

SOME FACILITIES RUN PET THERAPY PROGRAMS BETTER THAN OTHERS

One of my favorite visits (and Icy's too!) is the Reading To Dogs programs at the library.  During these visits children read out loud to dogs, which gives them  an opportunity to practice their reading and improve reading skills in a safe, non-judgmental environment.  I'm not grading or correcting them and Icy doesn't care how well they read, as long as they'll give her a few pets and maybe a belly rub! Learn more about Reading To Dogs programs for kids in this post.

At one of the libraries we visited in Phoenix, the program was very unstructured.  We showed up with our dogs, signed in, and were told to "just find a place to sit and we'll send the kids to you".  If you've ever seen a dog in a library, you know how excited kids get when they see a dog there. They can't help themselves, they invariably come rushing over to pet the dog and start asking questions.  They are oblivious to the fact that you're conducting a therapy dog reading session. 

One of my favorite photos of Icy  reading with one of the kids at the library.  She looks so interested in doesn't she?!

One day Icy and I arrived at the library and found a tiny corner. The first child sat down to read to Icy but almost immediately, another kid came running over, excitedly yelling, and plopped down to pet Icy and begin asking questions about her.  Needless to say, the child that was reading to Icy was very put off and he immediately shut down.  The second kid's grandparent came over but seemed oblivious to the fact that this was a one on one reading session.  I finally had to gently suggest that he come back after the first child was done reading.

There wasn't a library staff in sight to oversee the program or help in any way. I went to this library twice before I became discouraged and never returned.  This type of environment puts the therapy dog handler and the kids who want to read in an awkward position.  It's not a pleasant or effective experience.

At another Phoenix library it was a totally different story.  Their program was perfectly executed and managed.  This library was a joy to be a part of and I continued my visits for a couple of years.  I left only because we moved out of state.  They did so many things right:

🐶 They had a separate room for the visits and set it up perfectly.  There were no more than 3 dogs at any one time and the sessions were one child at a time reading to a dog.  For kids who struggle with reading, group reading sessions can be stressful and unpleasant, lowering their confidence.  Here, each child had one on one time to read and interact with the dog in a non stressful environment.

🐶 Kids signed up in advance for the program and waited outside the room for their turn to read.  No other kids interrupting or making the child uncomfortable.

🐶 At the end of their 15 minute reading session, the child was given a lovely printed certificate that said "I read with Icy today!" The kids loved the certificates, it gave them a sense of accomplishment and pride.

🐶 They didn't allow therapy dog handlers to give out candy or other edibles to the children, which is smart.  Sticky fingers and books are not a good combination! Parents also don't appreciate their kids being randomly given sweets or other foods in the middle of the day.  They did allow us to give out stickers, which the kids loved.  One or two fun stickers for each child adds a nice touch and feeling of pride and accomplishment to a therapy dog visit. 

🐶 They Paid Attention!  If kids started entering the room, crowding a dog, or squealing in high pitch tones they stepped in.  They didn't just leave the handlers alone to supervise the groups of children who participate in the program.   The handler's responsibility is to their dog. They shouldn't be left to their own devices to manage groups of children in a facility.

🐶 They had books available for the children to select to read. They also obtained input from local elementary schools on books that should be offered. 

I miss that library and their staff so much!  Of the many libraries we've visited as a therapy dog team, that one was my favorite.

MORE TIPS TO RUN YOUR THERAPY DOG PROGRAM WELL

🐾 Ensure therapy dog handlers don't bring any dog treats or food that contains nuts.  Dogs love peanut butter treats but they should be left at home. There are so many kids with nut allergies!

🐾 Always have someone manage both the participant's signup process and the room.  Don't let kids just walk in and sit down.  Explain to a parent or guardian what the program is, how it works, and ask them to sign up.

🐾 Manage the visits!  Be there to support the therapy dogs and their handlers, who are volunteering their time to help you and the kids at your facility.  If a child starts crying uncontrollably, becomes frightened of the dog, wanders out of the room, or acts out please step in to help.  It's unfair to leave therapy dog handlers to be responsible for a child that wanders off or to handle behavioral issues. 

🐾 Remember that the handler's first responsibility is to their DOG.  They will explain to a child how to best pet and interact with their individual dog, and they will help a child with a word or sentence if they need it but they are not teachers or babysitters. I have seen parents drop their kids off to read to the therapy dogs at the library and not return for well over an hour!

🐾  Have a cart or table with a large variety of books available for the kids to read. Many times a child selects a book that is either way above or below their level, or they just don't like the book they chose.  When they have to run out of the room and search the shelves for another book, they run out of time.  Have plenty of books to choose from within easy reach.

🐾 Try to limit therapy team visits to one hour, and kids' reading sessions to approx. 15 minutes per child.  Most dogs become tired or need a break after an hour. Being a therapy dog is very mentally stimulating for the dog and they can get tired, or sometimes they've just had enough.  If a handler feels the need to leave early or give the dog a break by leaving the room or walking outside, please respect that.  The handler's biggest responsibility is to advocate for their dog. Part of that is to know when their dog is becoming stressed or has had enough.  Just like people, dogs have good days and bad days. Please don't be offended!

Another adorable photo of Icy reading with a child.  I get a kick out of her putting her paw on the book!

I hope you have found these tips helpful.  By following these tips your pet therapy program should run smoothly for everyone!

Have you ever run or participated in a therapy animal program?  Please tell us what your experience was like in the comments!

Appearance on the Sibe Vibe Radio Show!

I was so honored to be a guest on the SIBE VIBE Radio Show on Dog Works Radio this weekend!  I felt particularly honored because it was the show's 5th Anniversary and their Back To School episode!  The SIBE VIBE focuses on Siberian Huskies, rescue stories, canine sports and events and much more!  

The SIBE VIBE Radio Show is hosted by award winning Author, Photographer, Photo Journalist, and Blogger at the FiveSibes blog, Dorothy Wills-Raftery.

On the show, Dorothy and I talked about Therapy Dogs and the attributes a dog needs to be a successful Therapy Dog. We talked about the process of becoming a Therapy Dog and we discussed some of the work Icy and I do together as a Therapy Dog team in our community.  

Icy at one of the children's reading programs, posing with a copy of one of Dorothy's wonderful books, Getting Healthy With Harley

We talked about the Kids Read Aloud To Dogs programs Icy and I participate in and how it helps children improve their reading skills by reading out loud to dogs. It was a perfect Back To School topic!  

I mentioned our visits to the local High School as well, which help give students a sense of togetherness and helps relieve some of the daily stress they may feel at school.

Icy at one of our library visits

Dorothy asked me what my top recommendations for U.S. dog friendly travel places to visit were. I shared some of my favorite dog friendly travel destinations, (Hint: Sedona, AZ is #1) and a few of my most important pet friendly travel tips. 

We ended our conversation by talking about how special it is to be a part of the pet blogging community and what that means to us.
  

Thanks to Dorothy Wills-Raftery for inviting me to be a guest on the SIBE VIBE show, it was such a pleasure!

Are you ready for Back To School?  What are your plans for the first month of Back To School?  Leave us a comment and share, we Love hearing from our readers!

Therapy Dogs Making a Difference for Children

I met my friend Christine Orantes in the children’s reading program at our local library in Phoenix.  It’s a program where kids read aloud to therapy dogs to help improve their reading skills.  Icy and I were one of the Pet Partners therapy dog teams that volunteered at our library along with Christine.  At each visit, Christine would have one of her 3 beautiful therapy dogs with her.

Christine has been a Therapy dog handler, on and off, since the year 2000.  I’d like to share the amazing work she and her therapy dogs have done to help children and give back to the community.   Christine graciously agreed to do an interview for Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them.  Grab a tissue and get ready for your heart to be seriously warmed!

DOGS LUV US AND WE LUV THEM: Christine, how many dogs do you have & how many are therapy dogs?

Retired therapy dog Bette Davis taking a bite of her birthday Pupcake!

CHRISTINE: I have 3 Golden Retrievers, 2 of them are therapy dogs.   The oldest is Bette Davis who is 14 years old. She used to be a therapy dog but she can no longer do it because she has cancer now (due to an oral growth).   

DOGS LUV US AND WE LUV THEM: I had the pleasure of meeting Bette Davis at one of our earlier children’s Reading To Dogs programs.  She was a wonderful therapy dog, she’s definitely one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever met.  A very special Golden!

CHRISTINE : Then there’s Polly, who is 8 years old and Higgins who is going on 6 years old.  

Sweet therapy dog Polly, dresses up for the kids in the reading to dogs program

DOGS LUV US AND WE LUV THEM:  Christine got all of her dogs as adult rescues except Higgins.  Higgins is goofy and playful, and was born blind.  When I first met Higgins at one of our kids’ reading sessions, I had NO idea he was blind!  I just saw a beautiful, sweet and loving Therapy Dog.  When I found out he was blind I was shocked.  Honestly, you would never know he was blind if someone didn’t tell you! 

CHRISTINE:  Higgins came from a breeder as a puppy.  He was born blind and the breeder was going to put him down!  The dogs I’ve rescued were all "disposable" dogs, and look how they give back to the community as Therapy Dogs!

When people hear you have a blind dog they feel sorry.  No, don’t be sad or feel sorry!   The dogs don’t know they’re blind.  They can be part of a pack and a family.  I never treated my blind dogs (she’s had several) like they were disabled, I always pushed them to their limits and let them feel they were ENABLED not DISABLED.  Don’t baby them and act like they can’t do things, you limit them when you do that.  I treat them normally, no pity parties!

Beautiful therapy dog Higgins is blind, but it doesn't stop him from helping children or enjoying life!

Higgins loves to swim at the dog beach & chase his friends around!  I use heavier balls that make noise to play with so they can find the ball!  Emma, Higgins’ sister, is also blind.  Their entire litter was born blind!  Higgins and all his siblings were born with Juvenile cataracts.   Their eyes weren’t developed properly behind the cataracts.  The Breeder had de-wormed the mom while she was pregnant, and that may have caused all the puppies to be born blind.  Or, the mom & dad could have had this blindness gene, we don’t know for sure.

DOGS LUV US AND WE LUV THEM:  It’s incredible that blind dogs can make such great Therapy Dogs!  Can you imagine, a breeder was going to rob Higgins of the chance to live, simply because he is blind!  Higgins has given so much to this world and has made a real difference in the lives of children. 

DOGS LUV US AND WE LUV THEM : What made you want to get involved working with therapy dogs?

CHRISTINE : I wanted to give something back.   I felt so blessed to have one of my earlier dogs Maggie, who was amazing.  It inspired me to give back.  

I had gotten a call about a Golden Retriever Rescue who needed help.  The dog’s owner said she had this “horrible dog” she wanted to give up.   At the time, I wanted a female Golden Retriever about  1-2 yrs old with a nice golden color.   I decided to see this “horrible dog”.   

Turns out, the “horrible dog” was the friendliest most beautiful dog!   Maggie had been kept outside alone and was never allowed in.  It's no surprise that she became “destructive”.   Maggie had chewed up the sprinklers and the kids’ stuffed toys.  She wasn’t trying to be bad, she just loved stuffed toys and she loved kids!  She just wanted to come inside and be with the kids.   As soon as I got Maggie, I took her to PetSmart and let her  pick out a toy.  She picked out a stuffed Hippo.  She never wanted any other toys, just that Hippo.

Maggie ended up being an amazing gift for me.  Because of this gift I was given, I wanted to pay back somehow.   I never had a Therapy Dog before, but I always wanted one.   Before Maggie, I never felt I had the right dog for therapy work.   With Maggie, I had the right dog, she fit the profile of a Therapy Dog perfectly.   She loved kids and was the perfect Therapy Dog.

DOGS LUV US AND WE LUV THEM: In addition to the kids reading program at the library, what other type of visits do you and your therapy dogs do?

CHRISTINE :  We visit the Oncology department at the Children’s hospital.  We also visit the College, where the dogs help ease the stress students feel during exams.    We tried visiting a nursing home, but I realized my dogs liked kids so much, that working with kids was a better fit for them.

DOGS LUV US AND WE LUV THEM: Is there a particular therapy visit that stands out with you more than others?

Christine shared these two heartwarming stories with me.  I’m tearing up again writing about it. Grab a tissue, if these stories don’t bring tears to your eyes, better check your pulse!

CHRISTINE :  My Therapy Dog Cody, who has since passed, visited the children’s hospital with me.  Cody had this shark toy he loved.  He brought it around with him everywhere we went, even on our therapy visits. 

We were at the children’s hospital making our “rounds” to see who might need a visit, when a nurse came over to us.  She said there was a child who was extremely frightened and needed some attention.  The little boy had a stuffed penguin toy he was clutching in fear.  He would not let go of it and he wouldn’t interact with anyone.

I brought Cody in to see the boy and asked if he would like to meet Cody and pet him.  “NO!” the boy cried and turned away.  I had Cody’s shark toy in my pocket.  I gave Cody his shark and without a word, he went over to the boy.  He leaned in close so he could show the boy his shark toy.  The boy then showed his penguin toy to Cody and started giggling!   The boy’s mother said to me “This is the first time he’s smiled since he got here!”

Beautiful Cody with his shark toy, the toy that helped get a frightened boy to open up. 

As we left the room, the boy said “That was fun, Mom!”   No cues, no commands.  I just let Cody do his thing. 

DOGS LUV US AND WE LUV THEM:  Another story Christine shared with me was when she and her therapy dog Polly were at the library for the children’s reading program.  Our other good friend Paulette and her Keeshond therapy dog Teebo were on the other side of a partition put up to give the kids and dogs privacy as they read. 

CHRISTINE:  Polly was reading with a child when a mother, whose daughter was reading to Teebo on the other side of the partition, came over.  She recognized Polly and asked me if I’d ever been at the children’s hospital.  I said yes,  Polly and I had visited the children’s hospital.   Her daughter came running over and hugged Polly.  “Look Mom, she remembers me!”  She then said that Polly “Is so sweet and made me feel better [when she was in the hospital]”.  The mom thanked me for bringing Polly and being there for the kids.  

Beautiful therapy dog Teebo who helps kids improve their reading and also visits people struggling with substance abuse.

This is how Therapy Dogs impact people!   I’m always impressed by the courage and honesty the kids in the oncology unit have.  They are always so upbeat. 

Sometimes a sibling of a child in the hospital is kind of ignored.  All the focus is on the sick child.  I think the siblings need attention too, so I give them a book to read, some fun stickers or a bookmark so they get some attention too. 

DOGS LUV US AND WE LUV THEM:  Christine, what advice would you give to new therapy dog handlers, or others who are interested in becoming therapy dog handlers?

CHRISTINE:   I would tell them to know how to read their dog, know whether or not their dog is right for it [being a therapy dog].  Also, know if a particular therapy dog assignment is right for your dog or not.

I want to thank Christine for talking with me about her amazing therapy dogs and all the work they do to help people in their community, especially children!  She and her dogs are pretty darn special, aren’t they?!

READ MORE ABOUT HOW OUR FRIEND PAULETTE AND HER THERAPY DOG TEEBO HELP PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

6 Ways to stop your dog's inappropriate chewing

5 Great Reasons To Attend the BlogPaws Conference & my 10% Conference Ambassador's Discount!  Have you registered yet?  April 9th is the deadline to give a charity the opportunity to WIN a LARGE donation when you register for the conference!

I hope you enjoyed this interview.  Please share your thoughts about it in the comments.  We always love hearing from you!!

How Fake Service Dogs Hurt Real Service Dogs

I was inspired to write this by a recent Facebook post on Lisa Bregant's Facebook page.  Her post has a great photo of a Golden Retriever with a message asking people NOT to pass their pet off as a Service Animal if they don't truly perform the functions of a Service Animal.  The photo was one Lisa shared from Frankie Franks Facebook page.  It succinctly states that:

"FAKE SERVICE DOGS CAN HURT THE REPUTATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF VALID SERVICE DOGS AND THE DISABLED PERSONS WHO TRULY NEED THOSE DOGS TO ASSIST THEM"  - Frankie Franks

It really bothers me when people try to pass their dog off as a certified Service Dog, or when they get a doctor to prescribe an "emotional support" dog just so they can bring their dog to a restaurant or on an airplane.  Faking Service Dog status hurts the reputation of true Service Dogs and could potentially cause them to lose access some day.

Icy is a Therapy Dog, which is NOT the same as a Service Dog.  Therapy Dogs are NOT entitled to public access under the Americans With Disabilities Act, but Service Dogs ARE.

If you truly have a NEED for an emotional support dog, I'm all for it.  If you don't have a true need for a service dog, then in my opinion trying to obtain a service dog certification for your pet is the height of selfishness.  

A service dog should have a real need and perform a specific function(s).  When you fake it, you make it harder for true service dogs to gain acceptance, and cause people to perceive them in a negative light.  That could some day cause people with real disabilities, physical or emotional, to lose the ability to go to places the rest of us can access freely.  In turn, that would rob them of their independence and quality of life.  Would you really want to be responsible for that??

Here is my own personal Fake Service Dog experience.

We were selling a house we owned in another state, an investment property.  The renters moved out and we put a lot of time, work, and love into renovating the home and prepping it for sale.  Once it was all finished and looking beautiful, we listed it for sale.  We were proud of all the work we did and how well the house showed.

An interested couple came to look at the house early on and we were thrilled!  Their Realtor was very young, and clearly "green around the gills", but she was a nice young woman.  The first visit went well, nothing seemed amiss.  The couple and their Realtor returned again later to look at the home a second time.  But this time the Realtor brought a little Chihuahua dog with her!  It seemed odd for a professional Realtor to bring her dog to a showing.  The dog was adorable.  She informed me that the dog was 8 months old and was her "Service Dog".  Really??

Max, a real Service Dog puppy in training with my friend Barbara.  Barbara works with an organization that trains dogs to become Service Dogs that aid the disabled.

Can This Puppy Really Be A Service Dog?

First of all, where was the "Service Dog" on their first visit to the house  Secondly, an 8 month old puppy probably wouldn't even qualify to be a service dog yet.  It seemed unprofessional, but I'm an extreme dog lover so it didn't bother me that much.  Not until she put the dog on the floor and let her sniff around the living room, the room with brand new hardwood floors installed 2 weeks prior, and the dog promptly urinated.  She giggled and apologized profusely as I cleaned up her dog's mess.  Because of course she had no pet wipes with her to clean up.  OK, Strike One.

She then asked if I would mind if she let the dog off leash in the yard so she could "run around".  Again, I'm an extreme dog lover so I agreed.  Until the dog pooped in the corner of the yard beneath the beautiful palm tree.  Of course, she didn't have a dog waste bag with her or in her car.  Seriously??  Fortunately, I always keep dog poop bags in our car so I went and got her one.  Strike Two.

There's No Way This Puppy Is A Service Dog!

The couple ended up buying the house!  It was worth a bit of pee and poop to make the sale happen.  They came back a third time to inspect a repair we agreed to make prior to closing.  The Realtor brought the dog again.  This time she didn't have any water for her puppy!  She actually asked me if I had any bottled water for her dog.  Apparently she didn't have a water bowl with her either.   I gave her a bottle of water, which she gave directly to the dog, spilling some of it on the new hardwood floors.  It would have been Strike Three, but Who cares?  The nice new hard wood floors her puppy peed and spilled water on were theirs now, LOL!  

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Therapy Dogs bring comfort and smiles to people in need.  They do not perform the important tasks that Service Dogs perform.  They are very different.  Therapy Dogs do not have the public access right that Service Dogs are granted by U.S. law.

As the couple left with their Realtor and her Fake Service Dog, my husband and I just shook our heads.  "There's no way that puppy is a Service Dog" I said.  We laughed about it, but I had to wonder, did she bring her pooch to every house she was showing?  If the dog was a Service Dog, where was the pup the first time they came to the house?  Does she try to pass her dog off as a Service Dog at restaurants, on planes, and other places are normally off limits to dogs?   I can only imagine this woman toting her obviously Fake Service Dog around all over the place, negatively impacting the reputation of real Service Dogs.

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It's wrong to fake having a Service Dog.  If you don't really need one, please don't do it!  It's not worth degrading the amazing, fascinating work performed by true Service Dogs.  Those dogs are not only heroes but they are an important part of our society.  They can give a disabled person their freedom, their independence and quality of life.  We owe them so much more respect than Faking It, don't you think?

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like:

Puppies Behind Bars; Pups being raised in prison for a life of service

From Adorable Puppy To Invaluable Service Dog, an Info-Graphic shard by Petco

What did you think of this post?  How do you feel about getting a "service dog" certification for the sole purpose of bringing one's pet to places dogs are normally not permitted?  Please leave us a comment and share your thoughts!  We love hearing from you?

THIS IS THE PET PARADE BLOG HOP!!  THANKS TO RASCAL AND ROCCO, BARKING FROM THE BAYOU, LOVE IS BEING OWNED BY A HUSKY, AND BIONIC BASIL FOR SPONSORING THIS HOP!

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From Adorable Puppy to Invaluable Service Dog

Every now and then while sitting at the local Starbucks gazing out the window, people watching, I see an extraordinary thing.  There is a group of people who routinely utilize the bustling town as practice for Guide Dogs in training.  Guide dogs fascinate me.  In fact all service animals fascinate me, it’s astounding that they can be trained for a life of service involving such complex tasks and decision making.

Max, A Service Dog in training

You can imagine my delight when I was given an opportunity to share a wonderful Info Graphic and companion article about Service Dogs, provided by Petco.  If you’ve ever wondered how Service Dogs help people and what it might be like to be a Service Dog trainer, this Info Graphic provides a snapshot of what that might look like.

By now we’ve probably all seen service dogs in action.  Service Dogs help sight-challenged people navigate the ins and outs of daily life.  They offer comfort to returning service people.  They are even able to alert some individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes when they might be in danger and need medicine.  But training a dog from puppy to lifesaving companion isn’t an easy task.  It’s unlike raising a pet that will be part of a family; Raising a service dog is helping instill the necessary traits and ethic to be a hardworking animal that is specifically attuned to the needs of an individual.  If you’ve ever thought about becoming a service animal trainer, or are interested in what service animals can help with, use this graphic to learn more.

My dog Icy and I are a Therapy Dog team.  The terms "Therapy Dog" and "Service Dog" are sometimes used interchangeably, but a Therapy Dog is very different from a Service Dog.  To learn about Therapy Dogs and read some heartwarming stories about how Therapy Dogs help people, check out the section on THERAPY DOGS on my  blog's Home page.

My dog Icy, a Pet Partners Therapy Dog

If you enjoyed this blog post, I think you'll really like my post on Service Dogs being raised in prison for a life of service. In this post I interview my friend Barbara, who spends her weekends socializing these dogs outside of prison walls.

National Therapy Animal Day

Today is NATIONAL THERAPY ANIMAL DAY! 

National Therapy Animal Day is a day to celebrate Therapy Animals that bring comfort, support, and joy to so many people in need.

Therapy Animals help children improve their reading skills, visit patients in hospitals, and seniors in nursing homes.  A Therapy Animal can help ease the pain and anxiety of those who are hurting, bringing comfort and smiles to people who need it most.  Sometimes a visit from a Therapy Animal can transform a dark day into a ray of sunshine and hope!

As my regular readers know, Icy and I are a Therapy Dog team.  We participate in several programs in our community such as Children's Reading Programs,

and Stress Buster events at local colleges.

We visit seniors in nursing homes, and talk with kids about responsible pet ownership, kindness to animals, and how Therapy Dogs help people in our community.

Read more about the work Icy and I do in our community in the THERAPY DOGS tab on my blog's Home page.

My good friend Paulette and her amazing Therapy Dog Teebo make visits to a drug and alcohol addiction recovery center.  They bring comfort, compassion and smiles to people who are fighting to beat their addiction.  Hats off to this very special Therapy Dog team!

Therapy Animals can be Dogs, Cats, Rabbits, Horses, even Llamas! 

Many different kinds of animals can provide emotional support, love, & comfort to people in need. 

Learn more about Therapy Animals and becoming a Therapy Animal team with your pet on the Pet Partners or Therapy Dogs International (TDI) web sites.

As a proud supporter of Pet Partners VITABONE is helping spread awareness about the yummiest fundraiser of the year, Treats & Sweets Day. Throughout April, bakers across the country have shown their support by hosting bake sales and donation parties to raise money for Pet Partners, culminating on April 30, National Therapy Animal Day.  The sweetest part about it is that VITABONE has matched Treats & Sweets Day donations!  Click on this link to see why my dogs and I LOVE delicious Vitabone dog biscuits.

Is there a Therapy Animal that you'll be celebrating today?  Leave us a comment and tell us about it!

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A Therapy Dog In Drug & Alcohol Rehab

I've written several blog posts about the amazing work Therapy Dogs do to help people in need.  Most of my posts are about the work I do with my Siberian Husky, Icy.  But today I want to share with you the work my good friend and fellow Pet Partners Therapy Dog handler Paulette has done with her beautiful Keeshond dog, Teebo. 

Paulette and Teebo visit people struggling with substance abuse, offering love, support, and comfort as they fight to conquer addiction.


Teebo, Paulette's beautiful Keeshond is a great therapy dog!

Paulette and Teebo participate in the children's reading program along with Icy and I.  In addition to the children's program, twice a month Paulette and Teebo visit residents at a drug and alcohol recovery facility.  Paulette graciously agreed to be interviewed for my blog and talk about the therapy dog visits she and Teebo have with recovering substance abusers. 

Paulette and I met for our interview at a café.  Over cups of tea we talked for nearly two hours.  Before I get started on the interview, let me clarify something right off the bat: Teebo wasn't named after the football player, he's named after the Star Wars Ewok!  This is a common question Paulette gets about Teebo.  Now that we've cleared that up, let's get to the interview!



Paulette poses with Teebo (right) and my Siberian Husky, Icy at one of our library visits.

CATHY: Paulette, how did you get started in therapy dog work, and how did you know Teebo would make a great therapy dog?

PAULETTE:
During socialization and training, I noticed that Teebo loved everyone.  He didn't mind it when kids or other people crowded around him, he was so comfortable and so good with people.  When our PetSmart trainer Connie talked about doing a therapy dog class and asked if anyone was interested I thought "We can do that!" and signed up for the class.

CATHY: How did you find out about working with recovering substance abusers?

PAULETTE:
One of the other dog trainers was also a student, studying to be a social worker or counselor of some kind.  She had been doing an internship at a drug and alcohol recovery facility.  She thought therapy dogs would be great for the residents there and asked if Teebo and I might be interested.  I agreed to meet with her boss who managed the facility.  Initially, I met with him by myself, without Teebo. 

I didn't know what to expect, I had never been to a facility like that.  As I walked around with him, he explained what they do there and how residents go through the recovery process.  I didn't interact with any of the residents, who live at the facility during their recovery, we just toured the facility.  Afterwards he asked "Do you think you can do this?"  I said yes, I definitely could but I would have to see if Teebo would be ok with it.

They didn't have a therapy dog program at the facility, we would be the first therapy dog team to visit.  During our first visit, a Counselor was present to monitor the reactions of the patients and the team.  It went great and we've been visiting ever since!

CATHY: How is working as a therapy dog team with recovering substance abusers different than when you and Teebo work together in other programs, like the kids Reading program at the library?

PAULETTE:
It's a very different scenario.  When we arrive, we need to be let in and out of each locked area of the facility.  When residents first arrive they are in detox for several days before moving on to other stages of rehab. 

Teebo doesn't have to stay in one place and sit still like he does at the library.  We can proactively move through the facility visiting people.  Residents may be sleeping in their rooms, in common areas, or in small groups around the facility.  Teebo instinctively knows who to approach and who not to approach!

Another big difference is that there is a drug sniffing German Shepherd named Draco.  He shows up at random times during the day or night to ensure no drugs are present where they shouldn't be.  He's a working dog so no one is permitted to touch or interact with him.  The residents often ask if it's ok to touch Teebo.  We always know when Draco has been there because Teebo becomes fixated on following Draco's scent from room to room!



Handsome Teebo poses for the camera

CATHY: What is the most difficult part of working with recovering substance abusers?

PAULETTE:
One of the most difficult things is when they talk about their abuse, it can be pretty unsettling. 

Sometimes it's difficult because we often don't see the same people more than once or twice, it's new people all the time.  We only visit twice a month and the residents don't always complete their full recovery.  Although some residents will stay for a full 30 days, some will leave after their 5 day Detox period.  Some have to leave early because their insurance won't cover any more time at the facility. 

CATHY: Is there a particular visit or story that sticks out in your mind that you can share with us?

PAULETTE:
One of the residents asked me "Why are you doing this for us, we're addicts!?" as though she felt they were not deserving of it.   Some of them seem to be so lost, and say they don't feel valuable to society.

A couple of the residents have said "Thank you so much for coming, it means so much to us."  when all we did was walk around and say hello!  It's interesting to see some of them be so grateful that you care. It's very rewarding when you can make them smile and provide a positive interaction in their day.  It's always nice when they can have a conversation with you about something other than why they are at the facility.

I try to be encouraging by saying things like "Look what you're doing for yourself by being here!"  I've shared the FAIL acronym with a few of the residents.  I tell them "FAIL is merely your First Attempt In Learning".

CATHY: What advice would you give to other animal therapy handlers who want to help make a difference by working with recovering substance abusers?

PAULETTE:
Be flexible, it's different every time we visit and you can't have expectations of how you think it should be.  Most importantly, Don't Judge!  You haven't walked in their shoes.

Be in tune with your dog to see how he or she is handling it.  There was one day where we had to cut our visit short.  For some reason, Teebo just didn't want to interact with anyone that day.  I'm not sure why, but I had to take him home after only a brief visit.

When you meet a patient, let them start talking first.  Often they'll say they miss their own dog and start asking questions about Teebo like what kind of dog he is and what training we needed to do to become a therapy dog team.  When they talk about missing their own dogs I'll say "Don't worry, your dog will be waiting for you when you get home!"

CATHY:  Paulette, thanks so much for sharing about the visits you and Teebo make to the rehab facility.  I really admire how you two are helping people as they struggle to recover from drug and alcohol addiction by offering comfort, love, and support!  And maybe even a few sloppy kisses from Teebo!

I hope you enjoyed reading this interview as much as I enjoyed conducting it.  A big THANK YOU to Paulette and Teebo for giving us a glimpse into their therapy dog visits to the rehab facility.

"They say I gotta go to Rehab, I say NO, NO, NO!!"  

-  From the song "Rehab", by British singer-song writer Amy Winehouse. Amy died tragically of alcohol intoxication in 2011 at age 27

The Opioid epidemic has reached crisis level in this country.  I am under no illusion that a therapy dog can help cure life threatening drug addiction. But when every minute of every day is a painful struggle, a visit from a loving therapy dog can be a much needed bright spot in an otherwise dismal day. It may help an addict get through their day, and perhaps motivate them to participate in that day's therapy session. Dogs ask no questions, make no judgements.  They are pure Love. 

I think it's a great idea for therapy dogs to visit recovering substance abusers in rehab. Unconditional love, comfort, support, and the Power Of The Paw just might help them get through the darkest moments of recovery.

💔 Sadly, Teebo passed away in late 2018.  His love and light will remain with us forever.  His therapy visits helped so many people; Children, Seniors, and those fighting Substance Abuse.  Run Free, sweet Tebow. 💔

If you enjoyed this interview, read about Paulette and my very first therapy dog encounter at a local mall.  Icy and Teebo were still in therapy dog training, but managed to give hope to a grieving young lady.

What do you think about therapy dogs visiting rehab facilities?  Please, leave us a comment and share your thoughts.  We always love reading your comments!

GIRL SCOUTS LEARN ABOUT PET CARE AND THERAPY DOGS

Teaching kids how to properly care for and be kind to animals is important, not just for the animals but for the children themselves. Sure we want our children to grow up to be nice people, but there's an even bigger reason. 

It's important to teach kids about being kind to animals

There is a strong link between mistreating animals and violence against people.  Teaching kids how to properly care for pets and be kind to animals helps build compassion and empathy.

Recently, a fellow Therapy Dog handler and I were asked to speak to a local Girl Scout troop about how to properly care for pets and about how Therapy Dogs help people.  The girls were about 10 years old.



We talked to the girls about how Therapy Dogs help kids improve reading skills

I always find it interesting to hear the questions the kids come up with.  I must admit, whenever I talk with kids about dogs they come up with at least one question that throws me for a loop!  I thought I'd share some of the questions the girls asked us in our meeting with them, and the one question I had a hard time answering!

** "Does your dog help blind people cross the street?"  We said no and explained the difference between a Service Dog and a Therapy Dog.   I told them about the volunteer work Icy and I do as a Therapy Dog team like   Children Reading to Dogs   and   College Stress Busters.

** There were lots of questions about how they can convince their parents to let them have a dog!  It sparked some really fun conversation when we asked them to think about what they thought was stopping their parents from saying Yes to a dog.  Apparently, none of them want to clean up a dog's poop, which I'm guessing is a key reason for their parents' reluctance!  We explained why it's important to clean up after your dog.

** "How do you know if a dog is sick?" and "What do you do when a dog gets sick?"  We asked them how their mom knows they are sick, other than telling her so, and explained that a sick dog has many of the same signs as a sick kid; vomiting, diarrhea, or not wanting to get up and play.  We discussed the importance of taking your dog to the Vet quickly if he looks sick.

** I was talking about the responsibilities of owning a dog and got around to discussing that a shelter or rescue is a great place to get a dog because it saves a life.  I talked about puppy mills, how they are hurtful to animals, and why people want to Adopt not Shop.  Suddenly, one of the girls raised her hand and asked "Is (she named a specific puppy store in our town) a puppy mill??  I wasn't prepared for a question like that, I really had to think about the appropriate way to respond! 

I explained the difference between a puppy mill breeder and a puppy store, and that many people believe puppy stores sell a lot of mill puppies.  I didn't want to make any kind of accusatory statement about the specific puppy store, that wouldn't be right and could land me in a world of hurt!  



The Bideawee animal shelter invited us to speak with a local Girl Scout troop about Therapy Dog work and responsible pet care 

I told the girls I couldn't say whether or not a specific puppy store bought their puppies from puppy mills but that many of them do.  That's why it's a great idea to get a puppy or dog from a shelter or rescue and save a life.  The girls seemed to understand and agree with that. Whew!



We talked to the kids about how Adopting vs. Shopping can save a shelter pet's life!

It was a lot of fun talking with the Girl Scouts about responsibly caring for pets and how Therapy Dogs can help people.  Talking with kids like this is a great way to lay the foundation for kindness to animals, the proper way to care for pets, and the beauty of the human-animal bond.

NOTE: We were not permitted to take photos of the children for privacy reasons.

Have you ever talked with a group of kids about animals?  What points would you stress when talking with kids about caring for animals?  Please leave us a comment & share, we love when you bark back!