It's hard to believe that on August 10th, it has been four years since the incorporation of Canine Assisted Therapy, Inc. (C.A.T.). 
 
We have been truly blessed by wonderful volunteers and supporters who are helping C.A.T. to fulfill this mission.  Because of these wonderful volunteers and supporters, our services have expanded beyond what we first envisioned. 
 
C.A.T. volunteers not only provide the love and affection of their dogs to those in nursing homes, hospitals and assisted living facilities, but are going forth and providing other much needed services with their dogs. Some of our services now include:  

Dogs Healing Hearts - helps veterans, and other adults with psychiatric disorders like post-traumatic stress, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, children and adults in grief counseling.

Children with Developmental Disabilities - helps children with autism, cerebral palsy improve their own motor skills, grooming, exercising by caring and working with small pets and large animals, like horses.

Dogs in the Judicial System - helps children traumatized by an event and calms them for testimony in a courtroom or other similar setting. The teams need very specialized training and most often work in conjunction with court appointed Guardians ad Litem.

Pack Reader Program - helps students achieve grade level reading achievement for numerous reasons, including those learning English as a second language, when reading out loud to non-judgmental canine pets.

Our new Read-A-Thons are provided by deploying several therapy teams to a school. This carefully orchestrated program allows for as many as 120 children to experience the joy of reading to a C.A.T. Dog. Many of the schools participating in the Read-A-Thons then make the Pack Reader Program an ongoing service to their students.  

B.A.R.K. is used in conjunction with the Pack Reader Program and helps students understand Behavior, Affection, Responsibility, and Kindness toward animals and anti-bullying message.

AAA for seniors - helps elderly in assisted care facilities or senior care centers relieve loneliness and anxiety by interacting with pets.

A very special "Thank you!" to all of our volunteers and donors who have helped to make this possible. We can't wait to see what the future will hold for C.A.T. and its wonderful volunteers.