THERAPY DOGS INCORPORATED. NEWSMAGAZINE Volume 10, Issue

Transcription

1 THERAPY DOGS INCORPORATED NEWSMAGAZINE Volume 10, Issue

2 About the cover Please help us create covers for our Newsmagazines by sending us photos of your dog. If someone other than you is in the photo, we will need a completed Photo Authorization Form. DISCLAIMER We edit your stories the best we can, but do trust our members to provide correct or verified information. We are not professional journalists or copy editors. We are volunteers. We try our best to catch errors, misspellings and incorrect information. But sometimes we err! ADVERTISING REQUIREMENTS Camera ready art is required for all ads. Please contact the Therapy Dogs Inc. office for information regarding pricing. Therapy Dogs Inc. Newsmagazine is published two times a year. Any articles published in Therapy Dogs Inc. newsmagazines may be reprinted with credit given to the author of the article and the statement: Reprinted with permis sion from Therapy Dogs Inc. Newsmagazine (ex.: Vol. 1, Issue 2, p. 60) or whatever issue it is taken from. Therapy Dogs Inc When and How Do I Renew? There is one renewal date per household either January 1st or July 1st. Electronic renewals will be sent out 60 days prior to renewal and will be on the member portal. Hard copy renewal notices should be received 30 days prior to your renewal date. Electronic second notices are generated the first of January and the first of July. Hard copies are mailed out by the 15th of January and 15th of July. All renewals received after your renewal date will be assessed a $10.00 late fee. Any member, who does not renew, including the $10.00 late fee, by February 15th or August 15th, will be required to retest and reapply for Therapy Dogs Inc. membership. Prepare to renew: Make sure your dog has had a physical examination by a veterinarian within the past 12 months. Be sure the rabies vaccination is current. If using a titer instead of a rabies vaccine, the rabies titer level must be 0.5 IU or higher and must be measured every two years. Your dog s annual fecal exam must be done within the past 12 months. Make sure the fecal exam is done early enough to get results and, if parasites are found, get treatment and retest. Your veterinarian will sign off on the Renewal Health Verification form attesting that all three of these items are up to date. Time to renew: You can go to to renew online. Your Username is your address and your initial password (if you have not changed it) is your member number with a p in front of it. You will print your renewal, have your veterinarian complete it, scan and upload it and save it. You may pay your dues on the portal as well. Uploading the documents without paying will not renew your membership. You can renew via mail. Return the renewal health verification form signed by your veterinarian. Include the appropriate fees. Make your check payable to Therapy Dogs Inc. or put your credit card information in the space provided. All credit card information is deleted once your renewal is processed. You can also pay online by going to the Member Portal. Electronic Funds Transfers (EFT s) are not accepted. Payment without the signed renewal health verification form will not be accepted. All required materials must be submitted together. Your renewal will not be processed until the office has received all required materials. We appreciate all that you do to prepare for your renewal. Please be aware that postage fees are a large expense to our organization. We strive to keep our membership fees as low as possible. Please help us by returning your complete membership renewal package with all required materials and signatures to arrive by your appropriate renewal date. This way, your membership and insurance will not lapse and you will avoid incurring late fees. If you have any questions concerning the member renewal process, please contact the corporate office on the toll free number (877) or us at office@therapydogs.com.

3 THERAPY DOGS INCORPORATED Officers Jane Hirsch (President) 861 Farm Quarter Road Mt. Pleasant, SC (843) Carroll Colasardo (Vice President) 2621 N. Barkley Mesa, AZ (480) Directors In Alphabetical Order Stefanie Giese-Bogdan 1341 County Rd. J River Falls WI (715) bakerstef1@gmail.com Dede Brownstein Eagle Rock NE Albuquerque, NM (505) dedegqg@comcast.net Jan Cloutier 2 Crabapple Court Mullica Hill, NJ (856) jan@calimar.com Pat Coglianese (Treasurer) 6 Summit Drive New City, NY (845) pcoglianese@icloud.com Kelsey J. Gilmore-Futeral (Secretary) 1004 Anna Knapp Boulevard Ste. 3 Mount Pleasant, SC (843) kj_gilmore@yahoo.com Stacy Plummer Deberry Road Creswell, OR (541) splummer@pape.com Jeanette Sinohui 433 East Roeser Road Phoenix, AZ (602) mjsmtt@cox.net Kimberly Williams 14 Red Fox Lane Kearney, NE (308) vespid40@charter.net THERAPY DOGS INC. MISSION STATEMENT It is the purpose of Therapy Dogs Inc. to provide registration, support and insurance for members who volunteer with their dogs in animal assisted activities. These activities include, but are not limited to, visits to hospitals, special needs centers, schools, and nursing homes. Our objective is to form a network of caring individuals who are willing to share their special dogs in order to bring happiness and cheer to people, young and old alike. All communications regarding applications for membership, renewals, concerns, issues, general questions and requests for merchandise are processed by the corporate office and should be sent to: Peggy Grookett 5 Autumn Hill Drive Philadelphia, PA (215) mmgdogs@aol.com Keith Pettway 600 5th Avenue Cleveland, MS (662) keith@keithpettway.com Teri Meadows (Past President) 497 Rudi Lane Golden, CO (303) therapydogs@centurylink.net Therapy Dogs Incorporated Mailing address: P. O. Box Cheyenne, WY Physical Address: 1919 Morrie Ave. Cheyenne, WY (Toll Free) (Fax) therapydogsinc@qwestoffice.net Website:

4 Message from the President... 1 A Special Thank You For Our Volunteers... 2 Committees... 3 Merchandise... 4 Requirements Newsmagazine Submissions... 6 Spotlight on... Kelsey J. Gilmore-Futeral, secretary... 7 Rosie Lucy Max the Gentle Giant Whitney Therapy Dogs at Airports A Topic for the Executives Dawson Dave & Bruce Newsroom Relief Earnest T Tra Miss Jada Fiona Magical Miracle Moments A Mutual Touch Magical Miracle Moments Jessie Goes to School Toba TDInc. Scholarship Heart of TX Therapy Dog Group Purdy CONTENTS Hudson Valley Dog Owners Sophie Heaven Sent Daisy the "reader dog" Outstanding Member Award Winner Barbara Wilson Therapy Dogs Inc. Outstanding Member Service Award How honest are you about your dog? Charlie s Spirit Inspires Patients Katie Jo Joins Paws 4 Love Animal Assisted Therapy: A Change of Heart Charmin Chelsea of SunShower Looking for a Few Good Volunteers Paws 4 Love: Six years and still going strong What s in a Name: FAQ s About the Change from Therapy Dogs Inc. to Alliance of Therapy Dogs Dogs in the News T/O s Get On Board!!! Memorial Submissions Answers to How well do you know your Therapy Dogs Inc. Guidelines? Retired Therapy Dogs Somewhere Over the Rainbow ID Order Form... 47

5 Summer President s Message Hello all from the sunny South! And I do mean sunny! We had a wonderful winter this year I got to wear my winter coat at least 10 times! That s more times than the last five years put together! Now it is a beautiful spring with sunshine, cool breezes and azaleas in full bloom. Our organization is going full blast ahead! Our name change is in the works, going from Therapy Dogs Incorporated to Alliance of Therapy Dogs, and from TDInc. to ATD. It will be strange for a while, but I know we can do it! Remember you can teach an old dog new tricks! We had a lot of feedback on our name selection, some very positive, some not so positive. It was a difficult decision for the board but we selected the name we felt was a good fit and unique to us. We are proud that we are an alliance of people who love sharing their dogs with others and giving so much of their time to help people. We are 14,000 strong and no matter what we re called, we all know how effective our dogs can be at brightening the lives of others. As our organization has grown, renewal time gets quite hectic for the office. Please be sure to plan ahead to have your dog s exam, rabies vaccine or titer, fecal test and the renewal health form signed by your vet. We have streamlined our procedure so that only one form is needed to be returned. Help us to keep it moving smoothly by knowing what is needed and planning ahead. I hope everyone appreciated the new formatting of our 2015 Member Handbooks. We tried to make it better organized so that you can more easily find the new updates as well as any answers to questions you might have. We know how important it is for all our members to know the rules. One of our long time directors, Sheryll Barker, is retiring at the end of June. She has been serving Therapy Dogs Inc. for many years: a member since 1993; a T/O since 1998: and a director since 2002, as well as treasurer the past few years. Sheryll has seen many changes in our organization over the years. I am deeply grateful for the part she played in so many of our accomplishments. Her background in biomedical sciences and vast experiences as a longtime member were huge assets for her work on the board. She will be greatly missed. Although no longer on the board, I know she will remain a good friend and will continue to promote the organization. Life has a way of balancing acts and while we are losing Sheryll, we are gaining a new director who brings new talents and a fresh point of view, Stefanie Giese-Bogdan. Originally from Germany, she now lives in Wisconsin and we are happy to have her join our Therapy Dogs Inc. family. Check out her bio on the website. While I am introducing Stefanie, I would also like to recognize the outstanding work of one of our newsmagazine editors, Jared Wadley, and our graphics artist, Stacy Shultz-Bisset. Although not officially on our board, they put in long hours and hard work helping to make this magazine the beautiful publication that it is. I am so very appreciative of them.... Thank you both! I will close on a sad note I had to retire my special boy, Will, who lost his leg last summer to osteosarcoma. Thank you for the kind messages I received after the announcement in the Member Handbook. Unfortunately, the cancer has spread to his lungs and although at the time of this writing he is doing very well, I am letting him be a spoiled rotten dog at home, enjoying playing ball and getting lots of treats. I wish a happy summer to all of our wonderful members and their families, including of course, their furry family members! Jane Hirsch, President, Therapy Dogs Inc. Issue 1, Volume 10,

6 A SPECIAL THANK YOU FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS We are proud of the many Therapy Dogs Inc. visits you have made since becoming a member. Whether you go to hospitals, nursing homes or other facilities, or participate in education or reading programs, you are providing a valuable service to the people in your area. We believe that faithful volunteers like you deserve to be recognized for all of the beneficial work you do. In honor of your dedication to Therapy Dogs Inc., we are pleased to acknowledge the contributions you make to your community with these tokens of our admiration and gratitude. Therapy Dogs Inc. Visit Pins Do you ever think about how many times you and your dog(s) visit facilities on behalf of Therapy Dogs Inc.? We invite you to keep track of your facility visits. Therapy Dogs Inc. offers a lapel pin which displays the Therapy Dogs Inc. logo. There are two rings on the bottom to attach the gold bars that display the number of facility visits. Achievement levels begin with 50 visits to any given facility, then go on to 100, 250, 500 and When you reach the next level, you may order the appropriate bar to signify the new amount. Therapy Dogs Inc. Visit Certificates Therapy Dogs Inc. offers certificates for your visits. Provide your visit tracking information and Therapy Dogs Inc. will send you a certificate showing your name and your dog s name along with the appropriate number of visits. Achievement levels begin with a minimum of 50 visits. These certificates can also be copied and sent to the AKC to apply for the Therapy Dog (ThD) Title. Years of Service Patches In recognition of the amount of time you have participated in pet therapy with Therapy Dogs Inc., we are pleased to offer you a service patch which displays the Therapy Dogs Inc. logo and the number of years you have been a member. The patch may be sewn onto a shirt, hat, fanny pack, vest or wherever you would like to display it. They come in two round sizes: 3 or 2. The patches are offered following one year of service and in five year increments thereafter. If you would like a service patch, fill in your information below and send it to: Therapy Dogs Inc., P. O. Box 20227, Cheyenne, WY or via to therapydogsinc@qwestoffice.net. Yes, I would like to receive the Years of Service Patch! I have been a Therapy Dogs Inc. member for (please circle one) 1 year 5 years 10 years 15 years 20 years Name: Address: City, State, ZIP: Therapy Dogs Inc. Member Number: 2 Therapy Dogs Incorporated

7 THERAPY DOGS INC. Committees Alternative Review (ARC): Review and approve membership outside of the standard Alliance of Therapy Dogs registration process when there is no available T/O in area of prospective member. Approve or disapprove all issues that fall outside the Alliance of Therapy Dogs Rules and Regulations. Grievance/Ethics: Review and respond to grievances, complaints, ethics issues and general concerns. Membership Development & Scholarship: Develop educational materials for present/prospective membership; set scholarship criteria and choose recipients; review and select the recipient of the annual outstanding member award; develop/update policies as needed; and publish all handbooks. Nominating: Conduct election of officers and board members with the assistance of the corporate office. Public Relations: Develop and increase public awareness of Alliance of Therapy Dogs mission and activities. Review and approve requests for the Invite a Board Member program. Design and coordinate educational seminars for members and T/O s. Research and Investigation: Research and investigate matters including, but not limited to: Alliance of Therapy Dogs name and logo misuse, website misuse, and legal issues including felony applicants. Social Media: Interface with social networking members, be in control of the social networking content, and to make recommendations to the board as needed. Tester/ Observer: Review and approve prospective Tester/Observer applications. This committee also serves as first line to resolve T/O issues including disciplinary actions. Develop T/O annual review and monitor the T/O egroup. Newsmagazine Staff: Choose and edit submissions and design the semiannual newsmagazine. Issue 1, Volume 10,

8 Merchandise The following items are available for purchase from Therapy Dogs Inc. Logo Patch Decal Bumper Sticker or Magnet Cloisonné Lapel Pin Collar Pouch 4' Leash A B Lanyard Oval Sticker C Replacement I.D. Tag Bandana Note Card Dog Vest w/logo Patch Brochure Holder and Brochures Silicone Wristband 4 Therapy Dogs Incorporated

9 Canvas Bag w/embroidered or Silkscreen Logo A B C D Canvas Banner Bookmarks Clothing with the Therapy Dogs Inc. Logo can be ordered from: Charleston Cotton Exchange click on Shop on Line Merchandise Order Form We now accept major credit cards ITEM SIZE PRICE QUANTITY TOTAL Logo Patch $5.00 X $ Bandana S M L $5.00 X $ Decal $5.00 X $ Replacement Tag T S M L XL $2.00 X $ Magnet $6.00 X $ Bookmarks (10/page) A B C D $1.00 X $ 20 ea. or Oval Stickers A B C X $ $15.00/100 Silicone Wristband $2.00 X $ Lanyard $5.00 X $ Pouch $5.00 X $ Collar T S M L $10.00 X $ 4ꞌ Leash 1/4 or 1 wide $10.00 X $ Dog Vest T XS S w/embroidered Logo M L XL $24.00 X $ Canvas Bag w/embroidered Logo $25.00 X $ Canvas Bag w/screenprint Logo $15.00 X $ Canvas Banner 2' x 3' $50.00 X $ Note Card 5.5" x 4.25" 10 ea. X $ Bumper Sticker FREE X $ 0.00 Years of Service Patch YRS: FREE X $ 0.00 Cloisonné Logo Pin FREE X $ 0.00 Visit Pin 50 / 100 / 250 / 500 / 1000 FREE X $ 0.00 Cardboard Brochure Holder w/25 Brochures FREE X $ 0.00 Brochures FREE X $ 0.00 DONATION $ Shipping $ 3.00 TOTAL $ Name Therapy Dogs Inc. Member # Address Credit Card # Expiration Date Security Code (last 3 or 4 digits by signature) Issue 1, Volume 10,

10 Requirements for Therapy Dogs Inc. Newsmagazine Submissions We love your stories! Reading each and every one is a true pleasure, and we are happy to share them with the rest of our Therapy Dogs Inc. family. Here are the things you need to know in order to get your stories printed. 1. Articles and Stories a. 1,000 words or less b. Submit to corporate office in an electronic format such as a Word document, Rich Text File, or other editable electronic/digital form; NOT a pdf. or adobe file. c. The story/article you submit MUST follow all Therapy Dogs Inc. rules and guidelines. For instance, any stories or articles where your dog is off leash (unless preforming tricks) or you have taken your dog to work will not be published. To be certain, please refer to your member handbook or look up the guidelines on-line. d. All stories and articles must relate directly to your therapy work as members of Therapy Dogs Inc. We do not accept stories from members of other therapy dog registries. 2. Photos a. You may submit more than one photo, but only one will be selected for printing. b. We prefer that all photos submitted be high-resolution digital photos. Hard copy photographs are also acceptable. c. Please, no newspaper clippings or copies of such. d. MUST be accompanied by a signed photo release for any and all non-therapy Dogs Inc. members in the photo. This can be found in each magazine issue, your member handbook and on the website. 3. In The News! a. Summarize any news articles in your own words in 125 words or less. b. Must include your name, city and state of residence. c. You may include one photo that was not taken by the media outlet. d. Please do not send articles or links for us to summarize as the Newsmagazine committee will no longer summarize third-party articles. 4. Rainbow Bridge a. Photos must follow the above guidelines. b. Include the following: owner s/handler s name, dog s name, breed, date of birth, date of death and years of service. c. You may include a few lines about the dog s service or special qualities, but we may need to edit it accordingly. d. Due to limited space, human obituaries are not published. Submission deadline dates are always August 31 and February 28 Please understand that not all articles that are submitted are published. News articles cannot be reproduced due to copyright issues. The Newsmagazine committee reserves the right to edit contributions for language and length and to make the final decision regarding which articles will be included in each issue. Links to stories will no longer be published, and the Newsmagazine staff will no longer summarize third-party stories. If we have any follow-up questions about your submission, we ll send them to you as soon as possible. 6 Therapy Dogs Incorporated

11 Spotlight on... Kelsey J. Gilmore-Futeral, secretary For the questions involving your legal work, please give context to what s been happening with animal welfare laws in the last 10 years in the United States, then in South Carolina. I think people hear about animal welfare issues, but don t understand the depth of what s involved, such as how big of an issue it is, what types of cases (animals) you handle, etc. Animal law can be complex because it permeates every other area of the law. Attorneys must often be creative when applying current laws to a set of facts surrounding an animal. We have seen a great deal of improvement in animal protection laws in many states with South Dakota signing on last year so that all 50 states now have felony animal cruelty statutes. Additionally, courts are entertaining animal injury claims that extend beyond allowing recovery for the replacement value of the pet; some owners in some states are able to recover for the pain and suffering they endure when their pet is wrongfully killed or injured. South Carolina is in line with many of these trends. Unfortunately, we are also seeing a spread of ag gag laws which aim to restrict the ability of animal welfare activists to record inhumane treatment of animals raised for food. At our law firm, we primarily handle dog bite cases (plaintiff and defendant), personal injury cases when someone s pet was injured, and criminal cases concerning animals at large or vicious dog charges. As a friendly reminder, make sure that you have a will and that your pet is provided for in your will. Kelsey with Murphy, Jasper and Eddie (L to R) How did you learn about therapy dog work? What prompted you to volunteer with Therapy Dogs Inc.? I learned about therapy dog work from my mother, who works at the V.A. Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She always loved the days when the dogs came into the hospital to visit not just the patients, but also the staff. The dogs always improved her mood and had such a lasting Issue 1, Volume 10,

12 positive impact on her day. When we finally had a dog who was calm enough and kind enough for therapy work, my husband and I contacted the Medical University of South Carolina to inquire about therapy dog registration. They put us in touch with Jane Hirsch, from whom we took an optional therapy prep class with other handlers who remain friends of ours to this day. How long have you been a Therapy Dogs Inc. member and director? Eddie and I first tested for therapy dog work in I joined the board of directors in During this period of time, Stephan and I have added three dogs to our blended family household, lost one dog and one cat to old age, and registered two more of our pack with Therapy Dogs Inc. What type of dogs do you have? Where do you take them? Kelsey and step-daughter Maddie practicing positioning with therapy dog-in-training Pixel. How well do you know your Therapy Dogs Inc. Guidelines? 1. My dog likes to take a person s hand in his mouth to say hi. It s not a bite, so it s OK. True False Answers can be found on page 41 We currently have four dogs; three of whom are registered with Therapy Dogs Inc. Eddie, our Great Pyr/Golden mix, is 9 and thrives in busy atmospheres. Stephan and I are both registered with him, and Eddie is wonderful with children and excels at kids fairs, special needs walks, and other party atmosphere visits. Jasper, our Pekingese, is also 9 but prefers quiet visits with regular sized humans. We visit the elderly and their families at assisted living facilities. Murphy, our flat-coat mix, is 7 and is still getting the hang of visiting. For this reason, Stephan and I have kept him in the calmer, more controlled atmosphere of assisted living facilities. Pixel, our newest addition Japanese Chin, is 3 and is still overcoming her hesitation at meeting new people. All of our dogs have come from shelters or nonprofit rescues. What motivates you to do what you do? These dogs and those whom we visit motivate me to visit and test new teams. The happy panting and Pyrenees-bounce Eddie gives me when I pull out his Therapy Dogs Inc. collar and bandana encourage me to visit. The resident who talks excitedly non-stop for 10 minutes upon my entry into her room about her favorite dog when she was 10 encourages me to visit. The autistic child who rests his head on Eddie s chest to feel the up and down motion of his breathing encourages me to visit. Knowing that, 8 Therapy Dogs Incorporated

13 like me, the best part of some people s days is when they see and pet a dog motivates me to share the joys of therapy dog work. Is there a therapy moment that resonates with you? I have had so many wonderful interactions that choosing one is a challenge. Some of my favorite moments in therapy visits happen in assisted living facilities when a resident who may have looked at me indifferently when I walked into their room lights up and reaches forward when I point at the dog who has accompanied me; when I become invisible to a resident as they talk to my dog and only my dog; when a hand that could otherwise not move on its own begins to twirl my dog s hair once I place the hand on my dog s head; when residents who prefer not to visit the dogs smile and laugh at a dog who waves at them, nonetheless; and when a family member of a resident who has passed on tells us how important our visits were to that person. Throughout your life, you ve had a passion for animals. As an attorney, describe your efforts with animal welfare laws. What types of cases do you handle and the challenges you encounter? How does your work impact your efforts with Therapy Dogs Inc.? Each of our members can help solve the challenges I face as an attorney when it comes to animal welfare laws. The problem with animal welfare laws is that they aren t strong enough and there aren t enough of them. Pay attention to state and national legislation proposed that affects animals and call or write your representatives and senators, encouraging them to support laws that protect animals. My work with Therapy Dogs Inc. has encouraged me to devote my time professionally to improving animal welfare in the state of South Carolina. I currently chair our Animal Law Committee and have hosted two continuing legal education seminars over the past two years to teach lawyers in S.C. about the current state of animal law and how to increase the presence of animal law in their practices. I participate in humane lobby days to talk to my representatives about supporting animal welfare laws, and I speak to and write for local groups or publications regarding animal law issues when requested. What might someone (non-family member or close friends) be surprised to know about you? You might be surprised to know that I grew up as a gym rat in a PowerHouse gym that my parents owned and it s been on my bucket list for years to compete in a bodybuilding or figure competition. In general, what do you see for the future of therapy dog efforts? More and more reputable research is touting the benefits of dogs (at least well-behaved dogs!) on a human s physiology. I believe that therapy dogs will work their way onto more college campuses, into more therapy rooms and courtrooms with abused or neglected children who have to testify, and into more physical therapy sessions. I believe there is no limit to the benefits that therapy dogs can provide to those whom we visit, and I am encouraged on a regular basis by the good work that our members and their dogs do, and by the consistent flow of handlers excited to register their dogs with Therapy Dogs Inc. to begin sharing smiles and joy. Issue 1, Volume 10,

14 osie RRosie is a 4-year-old miniature Australian Labradoodle. Labradoodles are fun, loving and affectionate dogs who also can be very energetic. Early on, I knew that Rosie needed a job and, because of her loving and eager-tomeet-and-greet-you personality, I thought therapy dog work would be a good fit. She and I have become a great therapy dog team since our registration on June 5, Therapy dog work has developed into an eagerly anticipated weekly activity for both of us. Rosie and I volunteer every Monday at an assisted living facility: Biddeford Estates in Biddeford, Maine. Plus, we volunteer every Thursday at the Portsmouth Regional Hospital in Portsmouth, NH. Since we started our visits, we have developed many friendships with both residents and staff at the assisted living facility and also with the hospital staff. Just like the television show Cheers, everybody knows our name and enjoys our visits. Attached are photos taken at one of our recent hospital visits. Rosie brings a ray of sunshine and cuddles to all she visits. Sharon Bates, Kennebunkport, ME Lucy Attached is a photo of Lucy and me with Gary at the Immanuel Lutheran Home here in Kalispell. One lady told me Lucy was her most important visitor. Therapy Dogs Inc. does indeed make a difference in people s lives! Thank you for allowing us to be a team in bringing joy and smiles! Lois Randall, Kalispell, MT 10 Therapy Dogs Incorporated

15 Max the Gentle Giant As Max the Gentle Giant enters CoxHealth, all heads turn to see where this 200-pound English Mastiff will stop so they can pet him. Some just stop and watch. He loves to be petted by all before he goes to the pediatric floor to visit the children. Max is part of CoxHealth s pet therapy teams who have the privilege of visiting the children in pediatrics. One Saturday a month he goes to church with Robin, then heads to Springfield to visit the psychiatric units at CoxHealth North. It has been reported that some of the patients require less anxiety medication after a pet therapy visit. The next Saturday they head to Meyer Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Hospital to visit the units. The staff loves to see Max come. They enjoy a pet therapy visit as much as the patients do. He also volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House. Anytime there is a need, Max is there! Max is a happy family member at the home of Carol and Robin Rader in Niangua, Missouri. Max is a 4-year-old rescue who found his calling as a pet therapy dog. His job is sharing smiles and joy! Robin Rader, Marshfield, MO Whitney We adopted Whitney, age 10, two years ago and realized almost immediately that she would be a perfect therapy dog. She is kind and gentle, calm, doesn t bark or jump up and has a magnetism that makes strangers approach to pat or hug. I call her my Velcro dog since she attaches to the side of any handy person s leg. During the winter season in Arizona, Whitney made regular visits to patients at a rehab hospital, and also was a great comfort to a gentleman through Paws for Hospice. On Whitney s summer vacation in Vermont, she brought great smiles and joy to residents at the Franklin County Nursing and Rehab facility in St. Albans, Vermont. She was a special favorite of Colleen and Geraldine, shown here. Whitney really enjoys her work, and we love sharing her gift with others. Marion Bliss, Gold Canyon, AZ Issue 1, Volume 10,

16 Therapy Dogs at Airports A Topic for the Executives The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) held a Customer Service Conference for Airport Executives in Kelowna, British Columbia on October 20-21, It was my distinct pleasure to have been invited to speak on therapy dogs and the magic they create in an airport environment. I invited Sarah Cox, Manager of Passenger Facilitation at the Edmonton International Airport, Alberta Canada, to join me. She knows the international side of this unique customer service. Our presentations covered everything from PET ME dog vests to the cost of a program. My focus was on liability insurance and the importance of compliance with Therapy Dogs Inc. rules and the code of ethics. I am the volunteer coordinator of the therapy dog program, Paws 4 Passengers, at the Reno- Tahoe International Airport. Our program has 21 teams and began in November of To find the very first airport therapy dog program, one need only return to the tragedy of September 11, 2001, when the airport pastor at the Mineta San Jose (CA) International Airport brought her own dog to the airport. She knew people were frightened and stressed about flying again when the planes returned to the sky. The resulting calmness and appreciation from the traveling public was immediately obvious. The program today, 13 years later, is flourishing. About 15 airports, both domestic and international, have therapy dogs walking their concourses and visiting their departure gates. Airports with therapy dog programs in place are: San Jose, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Reno, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Grand Rapids, Buffalo, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Memphis, Columbia and Edmonton, Canada. Programs at airports in San Diego, Seattle and Tucson should have their therapy dogs in place within a few months. How well do you know your Therapy Dogs Inc. Guidelines? 2. Retractable leashes are OK as long as you keep them stopped at 4 feet long. True False Answers can be found on page 41 While there are subtle differences among these programs, the therapy dog teams all spread smiles, calm nervous flyers, provide a diversion during long TSA lines and thrill children of all ages! Children, airports and airplanes have always been a fun combination. When you add therapy dogs, the result is a sure winner! When Paws 4 Passengers first began at the Reno-Tahoe Airport, our dogs wore their red therapy dog vests. We were surprised at how difficult it was to convince the traveling public to pet our dogs. The problem: people 12 Therapy Dogs Incorporated

17 were seeing our therapy dog vests as service/assistance dog vests. We heard parents telling their children don t go near that dog and no, you can t pet that dog. Heidi Hubner, who provides oversight for the LAX therapy dog program, explained we needed PET ME vests. She was correct. The PET ME vests solved the problem! Now when the children, especially the new readers, see our dogs vests, they sound out the words and viola! We hear them from far away telling their parents, Mom/Dad, I can pet the dog. It says PET ME. Their smiles and excitement are infectious. When our teams first arrive at the airport, we check the flight monitors to see if there are any delays or worse yet, cancelations. We go immediately to those gates to see stressed, frustrated travelers. The dogs calm the nerves of those frustrated passengers. If there are no departure problems, the next concern are the TSA security lines. If they are long, we work the lines with our dogs serving as diversions which makes the time spent in line seem shorter. One team (we usually work two teams together for two hours) will go through the line. When we reach the first TSA agent, we encourage that person to pet, talk or even hold our dog. Doing this puts a human face on that TSA agent and believe it or not, people in line begin to smile. Smile! Their adversarial attitudes about the TSA employees lessen if not disappear altogether. Our local TSA supervisor who is the customer support and quality assurance representative came up with the idea of a public address announcement: Will the Paws 4 Passengers Teams please return to the security check point when lines get long and we have already left for the departure gates. Other airport employees are always very happy to see our therapy dogs. Vendors, airport management, even the airport police, fire and control tower personnel benefit from petting our dogs! When you ve seen frowns and stressed faces turn to smiles and even laughter, you feel in your heart the good you and your dog have accomplished. As a result of this presentation to AAAE executives, I am thrilled to be working with nine new airports that plan to have a therapy dog program in place by early The next time you fly, I hope you are greeted by a Four Legged Airport Ambassador! By Debbie Harvey, Reno, NV Issue 1, Volume 10,

18 Dawson Several months ago, the volunteer manager Marianne Cota, who is with the hospital where Dawson and I do weekly pet therapy visits, PIH Health, nominated Dawson and me for the Hospital Heroes Award with the National Health Foundation (NHF). All the hospitals in Southern California were eligible for the award. There are a couple hundred volunteers alone at PIH Health, so it was an honor just to be nominated. But as it turned out, the NHF received hundreds of submissions from medical staff (including physicians), to clerical staff to volunteers. There were no categories. Out of the hundreds of submissions NHF received, they narrowed the list down to the 30 most deserving, and Dawson and I were in that group! We were invited to attend the awards banquet ceremony at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, CA last November. Unfortunately, the venue did not allow dogs, but my husband joined me. When my name was called, I went up on stage and met Dr. Bruse Hensel, a physician employed by the L.A. affiliate of NBC News and the Master of Ceremonies. I shook his hand and had my picture taken with him and the CEO of the NHF. I was not chosen among the top five award winners. But that s ok. It was an honor to have been nominated and a wonderful opportunity to attend this special event. I took a black lab beanie baby with a red jacket with me to represent Dawson. Melinda Bernhardt, Whittier, CA Dave & Bruce 14 Therapy Dogs Incorporated

19 toom Relief und Christmas ime, Chanel 6 Ne ws in Columbus, Ohio asks for five therapy dog teams to come and visit their newsroom to give some special stress-relief love. This is our second year. We love them and they love the dogs. They know also that we need to continue to keep the word out about the need for more registered therapy dogs here in Ohio to fill a great need for their unconditional love to so many people. Also in December we visit the campus of The Ohio State University with our dog for stress relief at exam time. Angela Jones, Columbus, OH ENearowsr ach year Listed in the pictures are: Chocolate Lab, Katie; Lhasa Apso, Barkley; Red Doberman Pincher, Rueger; Black and Tan Doberman Pincher, Tra (not pictured); Black Mix, Manny Issue 1, Volume 10,

20 Earnest T. How well do you know your Therapy Dogs Inc. Guidelines? 3. Open-toed shoes can be worn, so long as they have a strap across the back. True False Answers can be found on page 41 Earnest T. started his life as an unwanted, fearful and hungry puppy who shared a crate with a full-size English Bulldog. In January 2010, local police needed to find a foster home for the little golden retriever. They called Phyllis Meek because they knew she and her therapy dog had been working with children at the library in their small town of Marshall, Illinois. Phyllis didn t want to foster him, but she would adopt him. The scared little pup came into the warm loving home of Phyllis and another golden named Alex. Alex was a good big brother and modeled good behavior, having been trained to be registered therapy dog and service dog for his handler, Phyllis. From the beginning, Earnest T. could wiggle out of any space no matter how secure. He often opened his crate and escaped, not to get away, but to show that he could do it. So Phyllis s mother, who keeps the dogs while Phyllis works, named him after the clever Earnest T. Bass from the Andy Griffith Show. Earnest T. was so excited to finally get to join the others at the library for therapy sessions when he was old enough to be trained. Alex, Earnest T. and Phyllis have worked with three families at Marshall Public Library on Saturday afternoons for several years. Alex listened to children read and then played with them as a treat at the end of a session for over six years until he passed away this past November. Earnest T. joined the Saturday sessions 3 1/2 years ago and continues now after a short break during Alex s last days. Library staff suggested three children for the reading sessions because of their personal challenges, each very different. Sonny was blind from birth and had trouble getting along with kids and learning at school. Lydia had been badly injured in a tragic car accident when she was a preschooler. She and her brother and sisters are all painfully shy and frightened of many things, including dogs. Nicholas is easily distracted and was far behind his classmates in reading. The children attended separate sessions with Phyllis and her dogs, and the time was tailored to their needs. The sessions have become a family affair, and now all the children in each family spend time with Phyllis and Earnest T. All three families have continued the sessions faithfully for the entire six years, even throughout the summers. The dogs interact with each child in different ways depending on the needs of the children. Timid Lydia, who is afraid of falling because she walks with a brace, was quite scared of the dogs at first. The dogs would roll on their backs and lay still so Lydia could pet them and not be intimidated. These days, she and her siblings are still shy, but they are no longer afraid of dogs. The girls have started getting a short time for crafts at the end of the session. They are currently learning to make doll quilts, something kindhearted Phyllis is enjoying. Sonny, now 13, has always told the dogs lots of secrets because they will understand. The dogs sit with Sonny where they receive much petting, whispers, and love. The confident teen now reads Braille and advises the library on their music collection. Nicholas has improved greatly in reading. The dog lays on the floor with his head on Nick s lap and a paw outstretched to rest on a leg or arm. 16 Therapy Dogs Incorporated