The Seniors Centre For Excellence congregate dining program on Sept. 4 in Drayton featured three guest speakers and their four legged friends. All are volunteers of a unique therapy program that focuses on area residents of all ages.
The St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program started as a pilot program in Peterborough and today has nearly 3,000 therapy dog teams across Canada.
Therapy dog services are provided in hospitals, seniors residences and care facilities, schools, universities, colleges, community centres and libraries. Specialized work is done with drug and alcohol rehabilitation and with victims of post traumatic stress.
Volunteers and their dogs were able to be part of the Pan Am games in Toronto this past summer. Athletes were given dog cards, similar to hockey cards, featuring a picture of each dog along with their statistics.
The program provides an opportunity for each participant to talk with the volunteer and the dog, feel, touch, pet and cuddle the dog, receive unconditional love from the dog, and carry out an activity in the presence of the dog.
Benefits of the program can include:
– greater social engagement, with individuals/residents- talking more, participating more in activities and smiling more;
– stress relief and distraction from pain;
– comfort and calming; and
– improved self-confidence and esteem.
Across Canada the program varies depending on the community’s needs and availability of volunteers. Therapy dogs offer comfort and companionship in seniors residences and care facilities. In hospitals they can provide relief to cancer patients awaiting treatment. Paws 4 Stories, a special program of the outreach, helps young children learn to read. High-risk youth and children with special needs are part of the program in other communities.
During exam time the program is popular with universities, colleges and high schools. The dogs help with stress relief during these critical times.
In times of crisis, therapy dogs work with police and fire departments, social workers and psychologists.
In the Fergus-Elora-Arthur area there are between 20 to 25 dogs in the program. Therapy dogs must pass a 12-step test given by the St. John Ambulance in order to participate. There are no restrictions on breed, sex or size of dogs. Temperament is a large component of the testing and there is zero tolerance for aggression between therapy dogs and humans and other dogs. Dogs are not allowed to jump up on seniors, which could seriously harm a senior. Part of the test involves noise tolerance, especially during fire drill practices at local institutions. Dogs need to be comfortable around walkers and wheelchairs. To remain certified dogs must log a minimum of 60 to 70 volunteer hours.
Therapy dog handlers receive training through the mentorship program. Handlers are required to be comfortable meeting and greeting clients and have the ability to control their dog. Each potential handler is taught how to deal with clients experiencing a number of different physical and mental conditions. The position is on a volunteer basis with typical visits two hours in duration.
Ron Key got involved with the program after being involved in a serious car accident three years ago.
“My physiotherapist told me I needed to continue exercising at home, which I found very boring. I decided that walking a dog would keep me exercising. Alley, my six-year-old golden retriever and I joined the program two years ago. It’s important for me to give back to the community,” Key said.
B.J. Reynold’s passion for animals lead her to answer an ad in the Newspaper for the dog therapy program. She is currently the area coordinator and her dogs, Buddy and Sailor Moon, are part of the program. Larger dogs like Buddy, a black golden doodle, are suited to hospital patients who are unable to get out of bed. The patient can reach the dogs easily due to their tall stature.
“Once the bandanas and special leashes are on the dogs, they know it’s time to work. The dogs can break down barriers that humans cannot. I have seen a lot of dementia patients revert back to when they owned a dog,” Reynold’s said. “The work I do is very satisfying.”
Amy Blenkiron volunteered teaching craft classes at Caressant Care in Arthur and brought her dog, Ted, along with her. Because of the reception Ted received from residents, she decided to follow the footsteps of her mother, Reynold, and volunteer with the dog therapy program.
“I go to the Portage facility, outside of Salem with the dogs,” Blenkiron explained. “Most of the youth aged 12 to 18 at Portage are dealing with drug and alcohol issues. They look forward to the opportunity to spend time with the dogs, as they appreciate that the dogs don’t judge them like people do.”
For information on volunteering, donating or services through the program contact St. John Ambulance or visit www.sja.ca/Community-Services/Pages/TherapyDog Services.
