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Spreading Joy Year Round
We just made it through the holidays, a time when spreading holiday cheer is contagious. Imagine
experiencing that joy year round with a dog. Anna Sokoloff and her
Havanese, Cosmo, are doing just that with Canine Assisted
Therapy (C.A.T.). C.A.T. is an organization that "brings laughter, smiles,
deep happiness and relief to those who need it most."
On
Tuesdays, Cosmo and Anna visit the Children's Diagnostic and Treatment Center. Cosmo wears his purple vest and wags his tail during the
drive. He already knows the route and can't wait to visit with the
children. The facility is large with many rooms, employees and
patients and Cosmo is eager for the administrator to open the doors so
he can greet the children.
Anna explained that on their first visit,
"Cosmo approached each person with such confidence expecting to be
petted. They all adored him and he wallowed in the attention. He
showed no fear and I knew then that this is where we would come each
week."
Since
then, Cosmo has won the hearts of shy and apprehensive children. Anna
allows the children to pet him from behind if they are scared, but
eventually they form a circle and pet him from every direction. He has
been a sympathetic distraction for children receiving injections and
got a walk from a sweet boy in a wheelchair. His presence and
kisses bring smiles to both the children and the staff.
Cosmo
has been a wonderful dog ambassador which allows him to successfully
participate in this program. Being a good ambassador requires a good
temperament and training. A puppy kindergarten program for your puppy
under 5 months of age will ensure that he gets the socialization
necessary to interact in a clinic environment. A good basic obedience
program will start your dog on the path to gain many of the skills that
are items on the Canine Good Citizen Test.
For more information on how you might be able to Make Your Dog a C.A.T. Dog Today! go to our website and click on the link for volunteers or click here.
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Dear Georgia: Too much of a good thing?
 Dear Georgia: The facility that I go to would love to have me there for several hours visiting the patients. My dog seems to get restless after about an hour. Is there a specific amount of time that I should visit with the patients? - I've got a pooped puppy.Dear Pooped Puppy: It has been our experience that most dogs can only tolerate about an hour of therapy work at a time. The best advice is to pay very close attention to your dog. He or she will let you know when they have had enough. When your dogs starts to lose interest in being touched or show signs of stress such as yawning, avoiding eye contact or appearing tired or disinterested, it's time to gracefully head for the exit. It is important to understand that even though the dogs are experiencing lots of affection and petting, they are also absorbing all the emotion of the people who are touching them. All that emotion can be exhausting for the dog. There will also be days that your dog doesn't really feel up to therapy work. It's OK to cut your visit short or, in some cases, even reschedule your visit for another day. You must be in tune with your dog and pay close attention to their feelings and emotions. The physical and emotional welfare of your dog should be a top priority. Forcing your dog to perform therapy work when they really don't want to can create a negative experience for the dog. - GeorgiaEmail your questions to DearGeorgia@catdogs.orgBack to Top |
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Welcome New Certified C.A.T. Dogs!
Anna Sokoloff and Cosmo Susan McCauley and Maggie GraceVal Evers and Lily the WhiteDeb Davis and SchoonerCarol Brown and JoJoJoan Otten and CaseyBack to Top |
