Therapy dogs bring smiles to residents

[cougarnurse]

I have seen this happen often: Therapy Dogs Bring Smiles to Nursing Home - News, Sports, Jobs - The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

They bring smiles to faces - it's what they do.

Therapy dogs walk the halls and sit at the feet of residents of nursing homes and hospital patients, putting smiles on faces, especially around Christmas. In addition, they visit assisted living facilities, children's reading programs and libraries, assist with stress relief, do home visits, visit hospices, schools and shelters throughout the year.

At Mound View Health Care in Moundsville, in addition to resident facility bulldog Betsy, therapy dogs have been visiting for several years. Connie Smith of Moundsville and her dog, Shadow Dancer, have been visiting the facility for more than four years.

"To see the smile on their face is worth everything," she said.

Shadow Dancer, a Shetland sheepdog is now semi-retired after making about 150 regular visits, but the dog still makes an occasional return.

Smith said she now has a younger dog that is making the visits.

Randy Moore of St. Clairsville and his boxer mix, Sierra, have made more than 200 visits at different facilities around the Ohio Valley.

"There are not enough therapy dogs," he noted. "I think every place needs therapy dogs. It's amazing what they can do. They can actually help bring someone's blood pressure down and reduce stress."

Moore said he had a medical issue and got his dog at the Belmont County Animal Shelter.

"The dog really helped me, so I decided to share her and help other people," Moore said.

He is now an "evaluator" for Therapy Dogs International, an organization that provides therapy dogs for hospitals and other facilities. "The dogs need to be trained," he noted.

They have to be able to pass a 16-part test. Moore gives the tests. He explained therapy dogs must have an outstanding temperament, get along with other dogs, tolerate other animals, love children and like to visit people.

Smith, who assists Moore because their dogs went through their training together at the Upper Ohio Valley Obedience Club in Bellaire, noted most hospitals require dogs to have TDI certification before they are allowed to visit. It ensures the dogs have the right temperament and meet insurance requirements.

"It's unbelievable what a dog can do," Smith continued. "They're not just friends and for hunting anymore. I used to work in hospitals and saw families bring in dogs and see faces light up. I found out about TDI, and it was something I just had to do.

"When I come here (Mound View Health Care), people are ready to see her," Smith said. "When I bring the new dog, they want Shadow. They ask about things I have told them and remember things I've told them about this dog."

Both said while it might not be totally the right thing to do, they bring treats for the patients and treats for the patients to give to the dogs.

Moore said some of the patients believe his dog is theirs.

"They love giving treats to the dogs," he said.

Smith said anyone who might want to get involved with TDI and bring a dog for training can call her at 304-845-7829. Moore suggested looking at the TDI Web site www.TDI-dog.org.

"I'd be glad to teach them all," he said.

[SoldierNurse]

Outstanding article! Thanks for sharing it.