THE RIGHT PUPS

Local therapy dogs are qualified to cuddle away woes

BY KERRY FIRTH

The simple act of petting a dog has been shown to increase the production of brain chemicals that play a crucial role in mood regulation and the feeling of happiness. So, it’s no surprise that therapy dogs have become valuable assets in hospitals, cancer centers, schools, nursing homes — even the Olympic trials.

A 4-year-old golden retriever named Beacon was at the USA gymnastics team trials in Minneapolis to help de-stress the American gymnasts during their high-stakes competition.  Beacon is USA Gymnastics’ first therapy dog and even received his own credentials for the trials in June. As the team’s “goodest boy,” he’s the star of their mental health emergency plan. While Beacon might now be the most recognized therapy dog in the world, local therapy dogs are spreading their empathy and healing powers all around the Treasure Coast. 

“For Love of Paws in Fellsmere recently started a therapy dog program and currently has 12 nationally certified/insured therapy dogs just itching to make someone’s day a bit brighter,” said Larry Solomon, therapy dog team coordinator for the nonprofit. “Our mission is simply to bring smiles, comfort and joy by visiting with certified therapy teams, trained and registered with Alliance of Therapy Dogs.”

Therapy dog teams currently visit 15 facilities in Indian River County, including Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, VNA Hospice House, Scully Welsh Cancer Center and the Senior Resource Association, as well as numerous schools, assisted living facilities and libraries. The nonprofit’s ability to fulfill all the requests for visiting teams is restricted only by the limited number of registered therapy dogs and handlers. So, they are actively seeking more teams for the visits.

RIGOROUS

Volunteers with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs have passed extensive testing to make sure the dogs have good manners and do not mind being touched by strangers. They must be clean, up to date on vaccines and must show proof of a negative fecal exam every 12 months. Therapy dog handlers must pass a thorough background test. Once the dog and handler pass the handling/good manners part of the test, they are required to complete three successful visits to a facility or public venue where they interact with strangers. Two of these visits must be to a medically related facility. During these visits, the tester can evaluate, assist and assess how well the team works together and how safely and effectively the team interacts with people.

Sheri Anderson-Searle is the Alliance of Therapy dog tester/observer in Vero Beach who helps certify therapy dogs in the area. “I started doing this in 2016 with my dog, Gabriel, and discovered I had a passion for it and decided to become a tester/observer, to help grow the therapy dog population in Vero. My Gabriel passed in 2018. Solaris got certified in 2019 and has been coming to Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, ever since then. We are at the hospital every Monday and we visit the hospital every Thursday for about 45 minutes, before we go over to the Behavioral Health Center for our weekly visit. We also go to other places, like schools and nursing homes, upon request.

“Our Vero therapy dog team is growing. I’ve tested eight or nine dogs already this year, and sent them out to spread joy in the community. In general, dogs aren’t ready to do this until they are 3 or 4 years old, and out of the puppy stage. There are a lot of distractions in hospitals and the dogs must not react to loud noises, alarms and even people running through corridors with gurneys. It takes a special temperament to become a therapy dog.” 

CANINE COMFORT

For individuals suffering from mental health disorders, such as PTSD, ADHD or autism, pet therapy can be extremely beneficial. The presence of a therapy dog can lower cortisol levels, the hormone associated with stress. Therapy dogs provide a sense of calm and routine — especially helpful for those who struggle with anxiety and unpredictability in their daily lives. 

Animals offer nonjudgmental support which can be comforting to individuals who feel isolated or misunderstood. The unconditional acceptance helps build trust and emotional security and makes it easier for individuals to open up and express their feelings. The simple act of interacting with the therapy dog can bring joy and laughter, which are essential components of emotional well-being. For children with developmental challenges, pet therapy can enhance social skills, improve communication and foster a sense of responsibility and empathy. 

Recovery and rehabilitation also seem to be improved with pet therapy as patients recovering from surgeries, strokes and other medical conditions often show improved motor skills and faster recovery times. Pet therapy has even been shown to help patients manage pain.

“Unfortunately, we can’t always have a dog team available whenever a facility needs them,” said Ted Pankiewicz, executive director of For the Love of Paws. “So, we started delivering lifelike robotic cats to nursing homes to bring comfort and companionship to elders. The interactive cats purr, roll over on their backs, and paw at their face and look so realistic that they bring the same calm to the patient as the real deal. Patients love them so much they’ve kidnapped them from common areas and take them into their rooms as their own personal pet, so the staff has to keep track of their whereabouts.” 

The dog teams are therapeutic for caretakers and medical staff, as well. 

Sandra Block takes her therapy dog, Vista, to visit hospital staff members and emergency personnel. “These caregivers are under tremendous stress and when Vista visits, they can just soak in his love. When they go back to taking care of emergencies, they are better equipped, emotionally, to deal with whatever comes their way.”