|
Holly The Newf is a registered therapy dog with Therapy Dogs International (TDI). Therapy Dogs International
is a non-profit organization made up of
volunteers who regulate, test, and register therapy dogs and their handlers. Therapy dogs visit hospitals, nursing homes, schools, libraries, and
other institutions and groups where people can benefit from a therapy dog. All dogs are eligible to be tested, whether they are pure bred, or from
a shelter.
Therapy dogs exist to provide comfort and companionship. Therapy dogs are not service dogs. They only provide emotional support to promote healing and improve
the quality of life for the people they visit and the staff that cares for them. Therapy dogs elevate the mood of the people they are around. The dogs and
their handlers provide stimulation for conversation, learning, and encourage interest in physical therapy. These dogs bring life and excitement to a sterile
day and rekindle feelings and memories in people who have previously owned a pet. It has been clinically proven that through petting, touching and talking to
therapy dogs and other animals, patients' blood pressure is lowered, stress is relieved and depression is eased.
To become a registered TDI therapy dog, your dog must be tested by a certified TDI evaluator. A dog must be at least one year of age and
have a sound temperment. The testing process that each dog must pass includes a temperment evaluation, the dog's behavior around other people
including people in wheelchairs and with crutches, and the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen Test (CGC).
TDI also requires that an health record be completed each year by a licenses veterinarian.
If you are interested in getting involved with Therapy Dogs International and possibly having your dog tested, the best place to start is on
TDI's Getting Started page. It will list all the important information and
links to upcoming tests you can participate in. You can also watch a wonderful video,
An Introduction to Therapy Dogs International that shows their program and how valuable visits by therapy dogs can be. Please keep in mind that therapy dogs provide
visits to a wide range of facilities including assisted living centers, libraries, school, hospitals, nursing homes, shelters, and homes. To learn
more about the different programs offered, visit Therapy Dogs International's Our Programs page.
If you have a need for a therapy dog, please visit TDI's Information
for Facilities page to find out more about their program and how you can request a visit. There are huge benefits to having a therapy dog visit
a person in need. For more indepth information, you may want to read TDI's Perceptions of the
Impact of Pet Therapy on Residents / Patients and Staff in Facilities Visited by Therapy Dogs Study or
TDI's The Use of Therapy Dogs with Adult Substance Abuse Clients.
If you have a therapy dog in or around Western Maryland, Holly The Newf and her handler would like to meet you. Holly The Newf is interested in
participating in group therapy visits. Please email us with your information.
If you are a facility in or around Western Maryland that would like to schedule Holly The Newf for a therapy dog visit, please fill out our
Schedule Us form for one of
her programs.
|
|
