Question is always the same. How did you get your dog to become a Therapy Dog. Answer is never short.
I begin telling them that Cora was a rescue, 1 yr of age and a victim of neglect and abuse. Started out with some home loving, good food and socialization skills. Then off to the local PetSmart where I met with the trainer. Julie Eskoff introduced me to the world of dogs like I'd never known. Several classes under our belts and we applied to be tested for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test. After passing that Cora and I were elvaluated for "divine canines" a therapy dog group out of Austin, TX that we hold near to our hearts. We passed our evaluation after 6 weeks of training at the Austin State Hospital. For the next 2 years Cora and I visited Life Skill classrooms and worked with the most wonderful special needs children. We were also welcomed at a local Alzhiemers unit weekly. There the residents became young men and women, telling stories from the past and laughing at Cora's playful antics. A large rehab center looked forward to their patients engaging in physical play with Cora. Simple little tasks of brushing her or throwing a ball which she gladly retrieved help improve their range of motion. We visited with the local Army Reserve unit in Austin and Cora proudly "saluted" the soldiers. A trip to the Wounded Warrior Center in San Antonio were newly arriving veterns from overseas came for treatment allowed us to see first hand the over whelming need for Therapy dogs.
Our journey continued into Maryland when we relocated. Cora brought smiles and laughter to a hospice unit. We began working with the nursing staff with a stroke victim. Our first real Animal Assisted Therapy. It was so exciting to see the progress that our friend was making towards a better quality of life.
We relocated again, to Arizona and continued representing "divine canines" at yet another hospice/alzhiemer's unit.
I found out about Mayo Clinic's new program for therapy dogs. The first of it's kind in Mayo's history. Cora and I would need to be registered with Delta Society, so off we went to be evaluated after yet another study course. I'm so glad that I've continued on this journey with Cora as a therapy dog. The rewards that I reap are ten fold. Cora throughly enjoys meeting new people and always knows who might be the needy one for the day. Staff and patients alike now look forward to our visits. This is a great program!
I begin telling them that Cora was a rescue, 1 yr of age and a victim of neglect and abuse. Started out with some home loving, good food and socialization skills. Then off to the local PetSmart where I met with the trainer. Julie Eskoff introduced me to the world of dogs like I'd never known. Several classes under our belts and we applied to be tested for the AKC Canine Good Citizen test. After passing that Cora and I were elvaluated for "divine canines" a therapy dog group out of Austin, TX that we hold near to our hearts. We passed our evaluation after 6 weeks of training at the Austin State Hospital. For the next 2 years Cora and I visited Life Skill classrooms and worked with the most wonderful special needs children. We were also welcomed at a local Alzhiemers unit weekly. There the residents became young men and women, telling stories from the past and laughing at Cora's playful antics. A large rehab center looked forward to their patients engaging in physical play with Cora. Simple little tasks of brushing her or throwing a ball which she gladly retrieved help improve their range of motion. We visited with the local Army Reserve unit in Austin and Cora proudly "saluted" the soldiers. A trip to the Wounded Warrior Center in San Antonio were newly arriving veterns from overseas came for treatment allowed us to see first hand the over whelming need for Therapy dogs.
Our journey continued into Maryland when we relocated. Cora brought smiles and laughter to a hospice unit. We began working with the nursing staff with a stroke victim. Our first real Animal Assisted Therapy. It was so exciting to see the progress that our friend was making towards a better quality of life.
We relocated again, to Arizona and continued representing "divine canines" at yet another hospice/alzhiemer's unit.
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