Advent Talk

Specialty Forums Category => Pet Lovers => Topic started by: charis on May 10, 2008, 05:03:13 PM

Title: Service Dogs
Post by: charis on May 10, 2008, 05:03:13 PM

Has anyone here been involved with service/therapy dogs?  :beagle:  In the past month I've seen 2 "Service Puppy-in-training" dogs and one service dog used for maintaining the balance of a lady who needed help to stand/walk.  The puppies I've seen were both Labradors (one yellow and one black).  The service dog was a Golden Retriever.  I spoke with the owner of the Golden, and she told me about the various Service/Therapy Dogs.  :dogwag:  I knew about the Seeing Eye Dogs and the Dogs for Hearing Impaired, but I never knew about the other types of full time ownership disabilities that a dog could fulfill so the person could live a relatively normal life.   :puppykisses: 
Title: Re: Service Dogs
Post by: Ozzie on May 10, 2008, 05:36:01 PM

Has anyone here been involved with service/therapy dogs?  :beagle:  In the past month I've seen 2 "Service Puppy-in-training" dogs and one service dog used for maintaining the balance of a lady who needed help to stand/walk.  The puppies I've seen were both Labradors (one yellow and one black).  The service dog was a Golden Retriever.  I spoke with the owner of the Golden, and she told me about the various Service/Therapy Dogs.  :dogwag:  I knew about the Seeing Eye Dogs and the Dogs for Hearing Impaired, but I never knew about the other types of full time ownership disabilities that a dog could fulfill so the person could live a relatively normal life.   :puppykisses: 

Charis, this is really intersting. While I haven't been involved with providing that kind of service, our family noted the way that the Matron (Yes. An old English Matron, who would be called that till the day she died - She hadn't caught up with the 19th century and changed the title to Director of Nursing), used to bring her rather large dog into the Nursing Home, where we placed my m-i-l in the last couple of years of her life. I personally prefer a 'lap dog' that residents can have on their laps, but this was a beautiful natured dog and used to do the morning rounds with Matron, EVERY MORNING.

The residents loved this dog and it was the key factor/reason for many to get showed and dressed, rather than laying in bed. They had to be up before Matron did her rounds; dog in tow. It was lovely to see their faces light up. What wonderful therapy. :dogwag: For many, that was the ONLY visitor that they received. Sad! :'(

Yes. She even brought him in on Christmas morning - with tinsel around his neck (that's another practice that has gone by the board too - Matron coming into work on Christmas morning, to greet all the patients).
Title: Re: Service Dogs
Post by: charis on May 11, 2008, 09:58:36 AM
What a great story about the English Matron and her dog!  I know it is fairly common nowadays for volunteers to take their pets around to Senior Centers and care facilities once a week for the people to enjoy.  And dogs are used to help autistic children in schools. :puppykisses:  The Juvenile detention center in Portland has developed a program where the children bond with a homeless dog and participate in the dog's training and upkeep until the dog is ready to be adopted out to a new home.  The program has been a resounding success, with both the kids and the dogs getting a new start.  :dogwag:
Title: Re: Service Dogs
Post by: Lil Star on May 11, 2008, 10:52:20 AM
that is pretty cool Charis, I didn't know they did that. That would be an awesome thing to do for juveniles and the dogs!  :thumbsup: :amen: :dogwag: :dogwag:

While I drive around quite a bit for my work I often run across them in the Gresham area.
The other day while I was walking into one of my stores, I saw a man in a wheelchair that had one of the dogs. It kind of surprised me but thought to myself, what a wonderful thing.
Title: Re: Service Dogs
Post by: Chrissie on May 11, 2008, 07:32:22 PM
What a great story about the English Matron and her dog!  I know it is fairly common nowadays for volunteers to take their pets around to Senior Centers and care facilities once a week for the people to enjoy.  And dogs are used to help autistic children in schools. :puppykisses:  The Juvenile detention center in Portland has developed a program where the children bond with a homeless dog and participate in the dog's training and upkeep until the dog is ready to be adopted out to a new home.  The program has been a resounding success, with both the kids and the dogs getting a new start.  :dogwag:

That is fabulous Charis. As I think of it, I can see just how and why it would work. A real win-win situation.  :dogwag: :puppykisses:
Title: Re: Service Dogs
Post by: Michael Kopper on June 21, 2008, 06:58:36 PM
i knew of some people who trained service dogs.  i think i would get to atached