Therapy Dogs

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, originally bred to be a comforter and companion to humans, is gentle and affectionate, and has the perfect temperament to become a therapy dog.  Therapy dogs provide warmth, love and companionship to the people they visit.  The Cavalier as a therapy dog is a perfect fit.

"For hundreds of years this breed's function has been loving companionship to the human, and this is the greatest gift the Cavalier has to bestow"

                excerpt from  "Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: Your Happy Healthy Pet". 

Written by Norma Moffat and published by Howell Book House.

Volunteering your time with your dog, is an invaluable experience.  Sharing the love of your cavalier, gives back as much to the owner as it does to the people they visit.  Charlie (pictured at left) has been a therapy dog with St. John Ambulance in

  Charlie, owned by
Karen Kennedy

Max is another Cavalier with St. John Ambulance Therapy Dogs in London, Ont.  Max's owner, Cheryl Kramer, said she decided to check out therapy dogs for several reasons.  When her grandmother was in a nursing home she loved to have Max in for a visit.  Cheryl started to notice that other people in the home thrived on seeing Max.  When Cheryl moved to London, Max missed visiting his grandmother in the home.  Around the same time, Cheryl had another relative hospitalized for an extended amount of time.  Had Max been a therapy dog at the time, Cheryl would have been able to bring him into the hospital to visit her and lift her spirits.  Now that Max is a therapy dog, the patients he sees at the long term care hospital thrive on his visits - and so do Max and Cheryl.  Cheryl says: "One of the main reasons that Max became a therapy dog is the fact that these dogs love to be cuddled and loved."

Max visits with a friend at Parkwood Hospital, London, ON

Marley and Judith Birney belong to the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog program in the Welland/Port Colborne area.  Marley is just starting her 7th year with them.  Marley has earned her 75 Visit Bronze Medal; 150 Visit Silver Medal; 250 Visit Gold Medal from St John Ambulance therapy Dog program.  This coming October Marley will receive the Branch Certificate for 350 visits.  That is a milestone for visitations that few dogs achieve and the local branch honours the dog with the 350 Visit Certificate. 


Marley, owned by
Judith Birney

Marley recently dictated a letter to Judith to send to the CKCSC of Canada newsletter (Quotes Nov. 2008 issue) to give an update.

"I had visited the nursing home where Dad was resting at the very last in 2006 to 2007.  I had been going to the Therapy Dog Visits all along but when Dad was finally in Northland Point that is where

Mom and I visited.  Boy, was I a hit with Northland Pointe in Port Colborne when I arrived.  I saw the need for these visits even more since I was caring for Dad so much at home.  Folks sure like to talk about their dogs to me and pet my long ears.  They like my beautiful eyes they tell me.  I was very happy to go there and be able to visit with Dad and keep Mom under my paw and know she was ok.  I visit the staff too and they all like to say hello to me as well.   I have learned through the experiences with my family that people need Cavaliers in their life.  We bring our special gentle loving to ease their sorrows and share in their joyful times.  We are very needed in the therapy role, in everything we do and everywhere we go.  I always take time to greet folks in the bank, the stores, and in passing wherever I am."

"Take time in your day to ease the hearts of others or bring smiles to a child and their parents.  Cavaliers are wonderful loving dogs and we have a lot to offer the world." 

Media release from the St. John Ambulance Council for Ontario

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE THERAPY DOG PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program started in June 1992 and has witnessed phenomenal growth nation-wide.  From six dogs and eight people who attended the first meeting near Peterborough, Ontario, the program today reaches out to thousands of Canadians  from one end of the country to the other on a regular weekly basis.

St. John Ambulance Therapy Dogs have now become a familiar sight throughout Canada's hospitals, long-term care, and day care facilities.  These well trained, impeccably groomed four legged volunteers are accepted in most places where a little care and love is appreciated.  Typical assignments include acute and long-term care facilities, palliative care, and rehabilitation.  A wonderful response is also being achieved in mental health facilities, and in a limited number of home settings.

What exactly do these dogs do?  Just what animals have been doing for centuries - offering unconditional love and friendship to the sick, lonely and helpless.  Dogs are non-judgmental.  They are undeterred by human frailties and accept physical and mental illness, confusion or tears.  They calm the distressed, distract those in discomfort, and comfort the lonely and shut-in.  The dogs, in return, are often accepted when humans are rejected.

Why are St. John Therapy Dogs accepted?  Great care is taken in the selection of the dogs.  All dogs are tested for their temperament and therapeutic qualities, and must be annually certified by their veterinarians as being up-to-date on all required vaccinations and in good general health.  It is a requisite of the program that all dogs must be clean and thoroughly groomed before each visit.  The Therapy Dog and its volunteer owner are covered by the same extensive insurance coverage that St. John Ambulance provides for all its members.

Many theories exist regarding the bond of human and dog and everyday as they go about their work the therapy dogs add to the mystery.  New challenges in different fields regularly happen as our service extends into shelters, daycare centres and schools.  Our Therapy Dogs will be found wherever anyone will benefit from the unconditional love of a dog.

Therapy Dogs is a community care program of St. John Ambulance and works under the motto "WE ARE THERE TO CARE".

How Does One Become a Volunteer in the Program?

Any dog of sound temperament can become a Therapy Dog. The St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program assesses each dog's temperament to ensure their suitability for the program. Before being accepted as a Therapy Dog, the dog must demonstrate certain capabilities, such as:

1. Accepting a friendly stranger,
2. Sitting politely for petting,
3. Walking on a loose leash,
4. Walking through a crowd (including wheelchairs),
5. Reacting well to another dog or to distractions (noise, jogger).

     Anyone who has a well-mannered dog (of any breed legally allowed in Canada) with a wonderful temperament can apply to join the program.  Just contact your local St. John Ambulance.