News

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 […]

Therapy dogs visit stressed Congressional staffers

April 2, 2020

It’s a ruff time in politics. An army of therapy dogs was on hand Wednesday to help stressed-out Capitol Hill lawmakers and staffers weary after a year of impeachment-related drama. Hundreds of journalists, policy wonks and politicians including Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) lined up to see the pooches as the first day of public impeachment […]

school therapy dogs

April 2, 2020

Foxborough’s Igo Elementary School will soon be going to the dogs — or rather to the dog — as the school gets ready to welcome Matty as its official therapy canine. Matty, a young black Labrador who has completed the training needed to stay calm and cheerful in chaotic settings, will visit classrooms in a […]

Therapy dog brings joy

April 2, 2020

While the topic of Jean Baur’s next book is a sad one — what we can learn from the grief of losing a dog — the mood Saturday afternoon was joyful for her talk at Waterford Public Library, where she came with her newer therapy dog, Rudy. Or, for at least one person, the mood turned from […]

SERVICE AND THERAPY DOGS

April 2, 2020

California law gives special privileges to people who rely on a certified service animal. But these days, a lot of people are getting doctor’s notes to qualify their pet as a therapy animal. A service dog is trained for one person to perform a task whereas a therapy dog is for everyone. Owner of a service […]

Therapy dog has good nose

April 2, 2020

The Canine Performance Sciences Program at Auburn University is an initiative of the College of Veterinary Medicine to expand canine intelligence in areas such as genetics, physical performance and neuroscience. One of its service animals is Dr. Moose, a golden retriever who has the the ability to detect live viruses. “Moose was trained to alert […]

Pooch gets love from seniors

April 2, 2020

What’s better than a visit from a two-legged friend? Cuddles with a four-legged one! When it comes to putting a smile on the faces of Bundaberg seniors, pet therapy dog Maizy is an expert. The pooch has been visiting the Carinity Kepnock Grove aged care community once a month, giving cuddles to residents as well […]

Therapy dogs make a difference

April 2, 2020

Therapy dogs have become popular in nursing homes, hospitals, funeral homes and schools. Some schools in the area have decided to add a therapy dog program to help students educationally and emotionally. A therapy dog is trained differently than a service dog or an emotional support dog. Therapy dogs do not require specialized training but […]

700+ pounds of food donated to dogs

April 2, 2020

Organizations, large and small, have been stepping up to address the community’s growing needs amid the coronavirus outbreak. While many have been supporting local pantries with food donations, one organization is sending a reminder that there are pets in need, too. “While there are many humanitarian organizations that provide food to our local community neighbors […]