Hospital Visiting Dogs

   Do you have a dog that is even-tempered, calm, and likes hanging out with people?  If so, maybe you want to consider training him/her to become a visiting dog. This is not for every dog, since some can be skittish around wheelchairs and canes, but those dogs who are sweet and cuddly could sure bring some smiles to people in need of some canine therapy. There are quite a few of these organizations around and each one has their own criteria, but I have seen these working dogs in action and they really help the people that they visit.

Gabriel's Angels- An organization in Arizona that provides pet therapy to "at-risk children, nurturing their emotional development and enhancing the quality of their lives forever."  They currently have over 150 volunteers and deliver therapy to over 100 agencies. If you want to know if your pet is a good fit for their program, you can take a short survey on their website. The dogs must be predictable and able to handle hugs and have an affection for children.
http://www.gabrielsangels.org/index.php  you can also check out their YouTube video @http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpCyEUdJQmI

Pet Partner Therapy Team is an organization that helps to bridge Therapy Dogs with the right volunteer location and support.  You can check them out at http://www.petpartners.org/page.aspx?pid=183

You can also view  http://www.therapydogs.com/ for an overview of Therapy Dogs.

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