The best therapy starts with a wet nose
There are always a great many people in any community who depend on the generous help of volunteers. A group of more than 80 volunteers helps people in need over an area covering several counties, giving of their time, energy and talent with no more than a smile and a pat for thanks. They’re therapy dogs who bring a little joy, reassurance and comfort to people who could use the help of a furry friend.
Caring Therapy Canines is a club made up of about 65 members, said Brenda Ziegler of the organization. “We’re active in a large area surrounding Wooster, in Holmes, Wayne, Medina, Ashland and Portage counties.”
The group offers numerous services for which their canine volunteers are well-suited, visiting school children, the sick in hospitals, the elderly and those in end-of-life care.
“For example,” Ziegler said, “a child in school who has reading difficulties may traditionally be helped by the Ohio Reads program. A person will come to the classroom door and pull the child out of class. That can carry a certain amount of anxiety for the child as they’re right away identified by the other students as someone who can’t read very well. But when I come to the door with a dog, that child is getting to go do something special. They are more comfortable reading aloud sitting right next to a listening, nonjudging dog, and it helps their reading level progress.”
Concerning visiting the sick, Ziegler said, “The presence of a dog is nonmedical treatment that can be calming, help the person open up a bit and talk about their illness, and make them feel reassured. All that can help a person get better, faster,” she said.
Ziegler also discussed agencies the club partners with. “Caring Therapy Canines also works with area Kiwanis Clubs as part of Safety Town,” she said. “We teach dog-bite prevention. We show how to approach a dog safely. You know children get very excited around dogs and may be very noisy and seem physically threatening. Children tend to be bitten near their faces when they get too close, too suddenly, while adults are bitten in the buttocks as they run away. We show people how to avoid that.”
Ziegler explained the club works with area hospice agencies to help with end-of-life care. “At that point in their lives, looking after a dog themselves may be no longer possible, but they still want the companionship a dog offers. Or their family members may have difficulty handling the situation, whereas a dog is simply present and comforting.”
The club is governed by and is insured through a national group called Alliance of Therapy Dogs. Each of the dogs must be trained in obedience commands and must pass temperament evaluations.
“They have to be comfortable with things like wheelchairs and walkers,” Ziegler said. “They have to be OK getting into elevators, with walking on any variety of floor surfaces, comfortable with strangers, love people, and allow themselves to be petted and kissed. Some of the affection and petting can be pretty sloppy or a little rough as well, and they should be fine with that, though we monitor situations at all times to protect the dogs from roughness.”
Ziegler also discussed other benefits the dogs offer. “It really is unbelievable, the things I’ve witnessed,” she said. “People who just haven’t talked at all will open right up around a dog. They need to get things off their chest, and they can safely do that with an animal. I love what I do. I’ve been doing this for 15 years, and I love it. We get no funding, so we actually pay to do this, and it’s a pretty good way to spend your money. Everyone wins. You get time with a wonderful dog, and I get to see all those smiles. That’s the payment."
More information is available at the club website at www.caringtherapycanines.com.