By Vicki Stephens, a certified trainer of therapy animals and operator of the pet therapy organization, Pets Helping People. Vicki guest blogs for pet insurance provider, Pets Best.
For the last 18 years I have been volunteering with my pet therapy animals. We visit nursing homes, reading programs at schools, assisted living centers and youth disability facilities. Currently I have three certified therapy dogs: Cooper, JP, and Tag (short for Tag A Long). As well as five certified therapy miniature horses: Malibu, Peek a Boo, Bell, Bo and Princess. All the horses are under 30 inches tall, except for Princess who stands at 31 ½ inches tall. And in case you are wondering, yes, they are all house broken!
One of my former therapy dogs was a Toy Fox Terrier named Spunky. Spunky and I probably logged in more than 200 hours visiting nursing homes. I remember one lady in particular during these visits. She was a sweet tiny little lady. Every time we walked into the nursing home she would call out, “There’s my Spunky!” I had been told she had dementia, so I was puzzled how she could remember Spunky’s name, yet not remember her own family member’s names when they visited her.
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