CHLOE

THERAPY DOG

Chloe is an 11-year old miniature Yorkshire Terrier. She came to us in January of 2022 after her elderly owner passed away. She has lot of experience working as a therapy dog for her previous owners so she was a natural fit here.

Chloe is super chill and is always the first to greet guests with a sniff check and tail wiggle. She’s content to sit in your lap or by your feet for pets and ear rubs. And if she really likes you, she’ll roll over for belly rubs! 

Cuddles With Chloe is a new service we added for clients who deal with stress, anxiety, depression, or just need some positive healing energy from a furry friend. Time spent with Chloe is completely free of charge, however, any gratuities you wish to give go towards her veterinarian care and wellness.

​Follow Chloe’s antics and learn more about Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) on Instagram at @chloexoxoyorkie.

BELLA

THERAPY DOG

Bella is an 12-year old Shih Apso (Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso mix).. She came to us in June of 2022 after he family moved away and were unable to take her with them.
Bella is a big goof ball of a dog and is always up for a session of fetch or tug of war. She sits nicely for pets and will happily accept as many belly rubs as you’re willing to give her. She’s super smart and knows a variety of obedience commands and tricks to keep you entertained.
Playtime With Bella is a new service we added for clients who deal with stress, anxiety, depression, or just need some positive healing energy from a furry friend. Time spent with Bella is completely free of charge, however, any gratuities you wish to give go towards her veterinarian care and wellness.

What is Pet Therapy?

Pet therapy is a broad term that includes animal-assisted therapy and other animal-assisted activities. Animal-assisted therapy is a growing field that uses dogs or other animals to help people recover from or better cope with health problems, such as heart disease, cancer and mental health disorders.

Animal-assisted activities, on the other hand, have a more general purpose, such as providing comfort and enjoyment for nursing home residents.

How does Animal-Assisted Therapy work?

Imagine you're in the hospital. Your doctor mentions the hospital's animal-assisted therapy program and asks if you'd be interested. You say yes, and your doctor arranges for someone to tell you more about the program. Soon after that, an assistance dog and its handler visit your hospital room. They stay for 10 or 15 minutes. You're invited to pet the dog and ask the handler questions.

After the visit, you realize you're smiling. And you feel a little less tired and a bit more optimistic. You can't wait to tell your family all about that charming canine. In fact, you're already looking forward to the dog's next visit.

Who can benefit from Animal-Assisted Therapy?

Animal-assisted therapy can significantly reduce pain, anxiety, depression and fatigue in people with a range of health problems:

• Children having dental procedures
• People receiving cancer treatment
• People in long-term care facilities
• People with cardiovascular diseases
• People with dementia
• Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder
• People with anxiety, depression, high levels of stress, and other mental health disorders

And it's not only people with health problems who reap the benefits. Family members and friends who sit in on animal visits say they feel better, too.

Pet therapy is also being used in non-medical settings, such as universities, community programs, and pet-friendly health and wellness clinics to help people deal with anxiety and stress.

What are the risks of Pet Therapy?

The biggest concern, particularly in hospitals, is safety and sanitation. Most hospitals and other facilities that use pet therapy have stringent rules to ensure that the animals are clean, vaccinated, well-trained and screened for appropriate behavior.

Animal-Assisted Therapy in action.

There are over 50,000 certified therapy dogs in the United States. These dogs and their handlers make regular visits to various hospital departments and nursing homes and even make special visits on request. Libraries have started utilizing therapy dogs during story time to help children work on reading comprehension skills. Therapy dogs are a welcome distraction and help reduce stress and anxiety in our everyday lives.