Therapy dogs are our personal pets that have been trained and evaluated to provide comfort, companionship and entertainment for those in need.
Therapy dog activities include
Visiting area hospital patients along with family members as well as patients in hospice
Provide respite to residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities
Reading programs for children at libraries
Visits at schools to promote well-being and educate students about therapy dogs
De-stress days for college students during final exams
Visits to the airports providing destress for passengers
Present educational programs to local groups such as Brownies, Boy Scouts, Senior Citizens, church groups, etc.
Participation in Pet Shows and Health Fairs
A therapy dog must
Be at least one year of age
If dog is a rescue, it must be owned for at least 6months
Be good around other dogs
Listen to their handlers
Allow strangers to approach and/or pet
Be under control by handler at all times
Walk on a leash without pulling
Tolerate strange noises and smells
Not be afraid of medical equipment
Not be afraid of people walking unsteadily
Be current on all vaccines required by Alliance of Therapy Dogs
Have a negative fecal test every 12 months
Be clean and well groomed and have trimmed nails
Any dog of any breed or mix of breeds with these qualifications is a good candidate to be a therapy dog. See Getting Started for more information on getting involved with your dog.