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Therapy dogs

St. John Ambulance program arrives in Powell River

The Therapy Dog visitation program from St. John Ambulance is now in Powell River.

PET THERAPY: Volunteer, Audrey McLeish is looking for volunteers for the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog program.This community-based service has been operating successfully in other parts of BC and is now in Powell River, says Kate Heron of St. John Ambulance.

Therapy Dogs offer unconditional love and friendship to the sick, lonely and helpless. Dogs are non-judgmental and undeterred by human frailties. They calm the distressed, distract the pain-ridden and comfort the despondent.

The program is run by volunteers with limited funding. It costs approximately $50 to set up one team, says Audrey McLeish, unit facilitator. "My goal is to see teams sponsored through a donation to cover these costs for our volunteers," she said.

On May 7, an evaluation of dogs will be held. "We have a number of applications from people with their family pet," said Heron. "When we choose, we pair the handlers up with a facility."

S. John Ambulance is a vehicle for putting these volunteers together with the facilities and vouching for them. "This is an extension of our community service mandate and is just another part of providing good service to our communities," said Heron.

At first the program will be for seniors only. "When seniors move out of their homes they often have to give away their family pet to another member of the family or give it away completely. We know they miss their pets," she says. "Even just reaching out to pat a dog is physiotherapy."

It is now a well-known fact that interaction with animals lowers blood pressure, encourages physical movement and stimulates memory.

All Therapy Dog volunteers are screened by criminal record check, reference checks, and are instructed in respectful handling of confidential matters. Dogs pass a nationally-standardized evaluation to assure suitable temperament for visiting with seniors. St. John insures handler/dog teams when they are on the job and in uniform. Handlers wear St. John shirt and dogs wear St. John neckerchiefs. Both these items aid seniors in recognizing the volunteer as someone "who belongs" while visiting.

 

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