Ch Inverness Jagged Lace JH CGC, goes to the
Montana State Games Special Olympics in May. That week in
Montana has now designated the week of May 15th to honor the
developmentally disabled. She is a therapy dog with
Intermountain Therapy Animals (ITA) based out of Salt Lake
City Utah. The local chapter in Bozeman has 60 dogs in the
program. Lace frequents nursing homes, Bozeman Deaconess
Hospital visiting the chemo and dialysis centers, and
special events.
Animal assisted therapy started back
during World War II, as a Corporal William Wynne was
recovering in an Army Hospital in the Philippines, his pals
brought his Yorkshire Terrier, Smoky, to the hospital to
cheer the soldier up. Smoky immediately became such a hit
with the other wounded soldiers that the Commanding Officer
of the Hospital unit, Dr. Charles Mayo, of the now famous
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, decided to take Smoky on his
rounds. Smoky’s work as a therapy dog continued for 12
years, during and after World War II.
There are many organizations
throughout the nation that test for therapy animals. If your
dog loves people and can pass a AKC canine good citizen test
your dog would probably qualify. To me the one big
difference to qualify for ITA therapy animal if your dog can
not re-act with a loud argument bumping by either a person
walker or wheelchair.
ITA specialize in providing
animal-assisted therapy in the areas of physical,
occupational, speech and psycho therapies, as well as
special education. Our mission is "enhancing quality of life
through the human-animal bond". Our motto is "Pets Helping
People".
The
ITA volunteer program provides carefully screened therapy
animals and handlers (see FAQs section) who work with human
service and health care professionals to serve those in
need.
They work with children and
adults who are physically, developmentally, or emotionally
disabled, as well as others who can benefit from the unique
qualities that interaction with an animal can provide.
Members of Intermountain Therapy Animals are trained to
provide pet-facilitated therapy in hospitals, mental
institutions, nursing facilities, detention homes, extended
care centers, and schools.
Here are just a few
organizations to find out more about Animal Assisted
therapy:
Intermountain Therapy
Animals
http://therapyanimals.org
The mission of the Intermountain Therapy Animals is
Enhancing Quality of Life through the human bond with
animals The Reading Education
Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program is part of the ITA
and improves children's
reading and communication skills by employing a powerful
method: reading to a dog. But not just any dog. R.E.A.D.
dogs are registered therapy animals who volunteer with
their owner/handlers as a team, going to schools,
libraries and many other settings as reading companions
for children.
Delta Society
http://www.deltasociety.org Sometime
it takes an animal to do the job. At the heart of all
Delta Society programs is a research foundation which
demonstrates that when animals are around, people's
blood pressure goes down, stress and anxiety levels are
reduced, people feel less lonely and less depressed, and
they tend to be more social and community oriented
Hope Animal assisted
crisis dogs
http://www.hopeaacr.org Provide comfort and
support to people affected by disasters, usually in the
recovery phase. Scientific evidence has shown animals
are a positive factor in helping people cope with
traumatic events. HOPE AACR teams are educated to be
effective and professional while working in stressful,
unpredictable environments.
Lace has been making visits
for one year now. Even though she is pregnant with Truman as
the sire she continues her visits. This is a great way
to promote
German wirehair pointers, and a very rewarding way for
you and your dog to be a team bringing joy into people's
lives.
Please do not
hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or
comments. We look forward to hearing from you! [email protected]