Therapy Dogs

Therapy dogs come in all sizes and shapes. And yes, you have one under your roof.

How many times have you come home from work feeling like you were run over by a truck and your dog meets you at the door with a wag and licks your hand? Feel a little better. Sure you do.

Now picture people in hospitals, the elderly in nursing homes and the like who are feeling really bad because of illness or injury.

Dogs are a great way to help these people escape from their problems and make them feel better about themselves.

A long time ago, my mother was in a nursing facility because she had a stroke and Parkinson's disease.

I would visit her and she would ask to see her "granddoggies". I went to the administrator about this and received permission to bring our collie "Stormy" in to visit.

Mom really perked up and so did the other residents. After that, the administrator asked if I could bring in Stormy once a week for a visit in the auditorium for all the patients. I did and those folks were so happy, petting her and loving on her. It gave them something to look forward to the next week.

That was a great reward in my life to bring some joy to these elderly people and Stormy enjoyed herself as well.

Nowadays, therapy dogs and owners have to go through training and be certified for this kind of work.

Dogs with this type of job can help with physical therapy by having the patients groom the dog, throw toys or go for walks with the dog.

Adults and children with learning disabilities are being helped by these dogs as well by reading to the animals.

A disaster in anyone's life is traumatic whether it be tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, personal or man-made and these special canines can help calm and console us when it happens.

The Red Cross uses these dogs for just that purpose. Other organizations have gotten on the band wagon for use of these great dogs and find the presence of them very encouraging in their relief efforts.