Sand Spring Chesapeakes would like to introduce two new Alliance Of Therapy Dogs teams. Thanks to Polly at Canine Solutions LLC Guilty and Josey passed their therapy dog evaluations and are on their way to becoming certified pet therapy dogs.

  Mission Statement-

It is a goal of ATD to provide registration, support, and insurance for members who are involved in volunteer animal assisted activities. These activities include, but are not limited to, visits to hospitals, special needs centers, schools, and nursing homes. Our objective is to form a network of caring individuals who are willing to share their special animals in order to bring happiness and cheer to people, young and old alike.

JoAnn is already a Alliance Of Therapy Dogs member, I currently do therapy with Gambler and Glory. I wanted to introduce Guilty to therapy so along with Tom and Josey (one of Glory’s puppies) we completed the evaluations needed to become members. You can read the full how to become a member here.

Tom and Josey listening to Polly talk about how to become a therapy team.

Qualifications for ATD begin with a friendly dog, any breed or mix, and an owner/handler who has a desire to share it with those who are no longer able to own a pet, or are in a health facility separated or away from their pets. Dogs must be at least one year of age to be tested and observed.

Our process begins with a test done by one of our Tester/Observers in your area. This test includes a handling portion which tests your dog’s basic good manners and your handling skills. If you and your dog pass, you move to the next step of interacting with residents or strangers on three supervised visits.

Guilty appears to be sleeping but she is really listening.

Polly introduced us to therapy work some things she let us know about Alliance Of Therapy Dogs are:

• Visits start as soon as you reach the facility property. Ends when you leave the facility property
• Items required on visits: current membership card, dogs need to wear the official red heart-shaped ATD tag, written proof of their dogs vaccinations.
• Behavior of dogs: Dogs must remain under control at all times.
• Ask before entering: Ask before entering a room, if ok then enter if not move on to next room.
• Frequency of visits: ATD requires a minimum of one visit every three months.
• Guests on visits: must be at least 18 years of age, may not give assistance to the handler.
• Facility regulations: Therapy dog teams must strictly adhere to all rules and regulations in each facility.

Tom and Josey showing basic obedience.

• Walking the dog in a facility: Dogs may not precede handlers.
• Cellphones: Members/handlers must not make or receive calls.
• Dog Health: Dogs must have an annual wellness examination and current on their rabies vaccination as well as a negative fecal sample.
• Registered dog developing disabilities and/or stress: Member/handler must notify the ATD office if dog has developed any disability.
• Handler health requirements and developing medical issues: Handlers who have any fresh wounds, recent surgery may not do pet therapy visits until recovered.

Josey “sit”

• Dog grooming requirements: Dogs must be clean and well groomed, nails trimmed/filed, clean teeth, be free of internal and external parasites, and in good general health.
• Handler grooming requirements: Handler must be clean, well groomed.
• Dog equipment: Collars, including slip, buckle, quick release, martingale, smooth collars are acceptable. Leashes must be 4 ft or shorter.
• Two-foot rule: Dogs must be kept at least 2 ft from other dogs and animals at all times while representing ATD on a visit.
• Your dog is your first priority: Handlers must have their attention on their dogs for the safety and welfare or their therapy dogs as well as those whom they visit.

Is it my turn to show my obedience?

• Stay alert: ATD handlers must be alert to their surroundings at all times
• Only handlers may handle their dogs: Handlers must never leave their dogs alone with staff, patients or visitors.
• Dogs off leash/others leash walking handler’s dog: If safe the dog can be taken off leash when performing tricks, demonstrations and when assisting with therapy such as retrieving.
• Dogs on furniture: The ATD member/handler must know and strictly adhere to the facility policy concerning dogs on any furniture.

Guilty is doing very well with her obedience.

Once Polly was done with what we needed to learn as members we each showed her basic obedience and then we came up to her and she touched the dog like a person may do when visiting and watched the dogs reaction so she could tell what the dog and handler would do in different situations.

That was a great first evaluation.

When she thought we were ready we had our first evaluation in a facility. We visited a assisted living home. We met with the residents in the home. Some were in wheel chairs, some were walking around, some were in their rooms. We stopped and asked if they wanted to meet our therapy dogs and if they said yes we stopped and let them visit. If they said no we went on to the next person. Guilty and Josey both did really well in this situation. They got their first pass.

For their second evaluation we went to Fall River Middle school where Tom is a teacher. We visited his classroom where the kids took turns reading to Josey and Guilty.

Josey is feeling so relaxed as the girl reads.

Look at the smile on this girls face as she was leaving. The dogs make a difference.

Guilty again wasn’t sleeping she was listening very carefully.

Guilty loved it when the children petted her while reading. She was in heaven.

Both Josey and Guilty had a great second evaluation and they passed. One more to go which they completed this past Saturday. They both went back to the assisted living home and visited again with the residents. They both as expected did excellent and Polly signed off on them as completing their training and on their road to becoming therapy dogs.

Once we have our paperwork approved, become members I will be joining Tom in his classroom so the kids can read to the dogs after school. We will also be taking the test for the dogs to become R.E.A.D members, which is Reading Education Assistance Dog.

Thanks to Polly for mentoring us, to Fall River School and to ATD for considering us as  therapy teams.