News

Children’s Hospital add fourth therapy dog

April 2, 2020

Norton Children’s Hospital is getting another therapy dog. Thanks to a $50,000 gift from PetSmart Charities, Norton Healthcare will add a fourth four-legged therapist to help young patients Norton said research has shown that full-time facility therapy dogs provide emotional comfort to patients and help their physical recovery by encouraging them to get out of […]

Therapy dog makes 100 visits

April 2, 2020

Dogs make everything better. Patients and staff at the Parkview Cancer Institute seem to agree. On Monday, Natalie Manges and her therapy dog Maggie made an extra special visit to the Parkview Cancer Institute. Manges and Maggie have been visiting patients and staff regularly and made their 100th visit on Monday. The duo, working with […]

New law for therapy dogs

April 2, 2020

The new law (S.4802/A.6601) will establish state guidance on best practices for therapy dogs, therapy dog handlers and facilities, training, risk management and animal welfare. The law requires the state Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets — collaborating with other relevant agencies and stakeholders — to develop guidance for therapy dogs, their handlers and the institutions […]

Working dog

April 2, 2020

He wasn’t hired only for his fabulous hair, or even for his ability to stay cool under pressure. Rocket was handpicked to be the first-ever facility dog at M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital because of his advanced, specialized training from Canine Assistants, a Georgia-based service dog organization. Since the two-year-old golden […]

If you cats get coronavirus, experts say it is nothing to worry about

April 2, 2020

A newly-hatched study out of China, so raw that it’s not yet been peer-reviewed, has some disturbing news for cat lovers. Our furry feline friends appear to be susceptible to catching Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. Even worse, the cats in the study were able to infect each other, although they […]

18,000 pounds of dog food donated to shelter & food bank

April 2, 2020

Service Dogs Inc. had scheduled its annual fundraiser The Mighty Texas Dog Walk to support the training of service dogs for March 28. It had to postpone it, picking a new date of Oct. 31. Purina already had shipped 18,000 pounds of dog food to the Austin American-Statesman, where the dog walk was supposed to […]

Therapy dog and students win money for animal shelter

April 2, 2020

What started out as an exercise in persuasive writing for students who wanted a therapy dog in their elementary school has evolved into a $100,000 award to the Muskegon Humane Society. On Friday, Dec. 6, representatives from the Petco Foundation surprised students gathered at a special assembly at Reeths-Puffer Elementary School to present the grand […]

Therapy Dogs relives stress

April 2, 2020

Lubbock ISD’s growing therapy dog is obtaining positive attention from students, staff and board members as the program continues to grow. Starting three years ago, Lizabeth Burns, a counselor who helps run the program, says three therapy dogs went through extensive certification programs and manners courses to be exceptional and qualified school therapy dogs. Today, […]

Therapy dog works out after too many treats

April 2, 2020

While many of us may have given up our New Year’s resolutions, one dog is sticking with hers! Bailey the therapy dog in Rock Island is using a “Fitbark” to lose some extra weight. Bailey is a 5-year-old labradoodle working to get healthy and lose half a pound per week, with a goal of losing […]

Therapy dog helps kids

April 2, 2020

When you walk the halls of St. Pius X Catholic School in Edgewood, there’s a big chance you’ll bump into a four-legged friend. For over a year, a therapy dog named Clooney has been joining students in the classroom, thanks to Alex Bessler, a teacher at St. Pius. “I always noticed [my dog] Clooney was […]