From MAGS (Mid-Atlantic Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club) August 2011 newsletter, an article by PAWS member Doreen Holly about her great experiences with pet therapy.
“I’ve always believed in volunteering. In high school I was involved in a riding program for children with disabilities. After college I volunteered at Bryn Mawr Rehab. I was able to occasionally bring my golden retriever. In both instances I saw the impact animals had on the people who interacted with them.
When I got my first Swissy, Titan, I knew I wanted to pursue pet therapy. As my mom always says, “That dog was born an old man.” He’s a laid back love muffin. One day I was at a Penn State tailgate and a mentally challenged man approached him and started patting him really hard. Titan didn’t seem bothered at all. I knew it was time to test. He does tend to pull his head back if people go straight for his head, so I was concerned if he’d pass. Interestingly, he never does this with children or people with disabilities. I was also worried about the three minutes out of sight with a stranger. Like most Swissies, he loves his mommy. He did great! He didn’t like the tester picking up his feet, but luckily the tester knew this was a Swissy quirk.
TDI, Therapy Dogs International, sends you a list of locations when you pass the test. I chose Manor Care in DE. We volunteered there for almost a year, and I have many wonderful memories. One of my favorites…..I was coming down the hall with Titan and I saw an elderly, nonverbal, wheelchair bound man in the hallway. He was leaning to the right with his hand outstretched, but obviously frozen in place. There was no facial expression. I asked if he’d like a pet visit. No response. I moved closer. No response. I didn’t want to scare him. Not everyone feels comfortable with a big Swissy. Titan moved right in and licked his hand. A HUGE grin lit up his face! I also found that if you choose this venue you also serve the nurses, doctors, and the family members of the clients.
I was referred to PAWS for People in DE by a friend. As an English teacher I obviously love children and reading. I wanted to try their READ program and visit libraries. They were wonderful and offered a private testing session for me since I had conflicts with their group testings due to dog shows. With this program you can pass at various levels…hospital visits…working with children…etc. Titan passed at the highest level! They are a fabulous, supportive organization. They accompany you on your first visit and make all of the arrangements. They have many events and even offer conferences. They currently serve PA, DE, MD, and NJ.
Can I tell you that as much as Titan loved Manor Care…this is his joy…laying on a blanket with a kid cuddled up next to him…it doesn’t get better. Some children read, and those too young make it up. It doesn’t matter if they stumble or mispronounce, a dog doesn’t care. At the end they sign his PAWSo- graph book, give him a cookie, and get a playing card with his face on it.
My next thought was…could Rhea do this too? She’s very friendly, but a bit more high energy. She passed the test with flying colors. Nothing fazes her! I wondered if she would have the patience to lay down for an hour with four separate kids. She does!!! In fact, she’s awesome with them. I am going to see about visiting my local VA hospital with her. And Vago…as soon as he’s old enough…he’ll be tested too.”