R.E.A.D. therapy program will be featured on PBS this Saturday, October 3rd!

Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 3rd!  The R.E.A.D.® (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) program will be featured on PBS channels as a partner for their American Graduate Day 2015 event. This broadcast highlights organizations individual champions who work to keep kids on the path to graduation. 

http://www.americangraduate.org/american-graduate-day/

View the American Graduate Day 2015 Promo Video.  

American Graduate Day will return on Saturday, October 3, 2015 (check local listings). American Graduate Day is a live, seven-hour broadcast that leverages the power and reach of public media to focus on those organizations and individual Champions keeping kids on the path to graduation. Each hour focuses on one topic, including Early Education, Dropout Prevention & Reengagement, STEAM, Special Needs, and more. Journalists, thought leaders, and celebrities join together to raise awareness of the incredible work being done across the country to keep kids in school. Past guests include General Colin Powell, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, JuJu Chang, Hari Sreenivasan, Tony Bennett, Ingrid Michaelson, CC Sabathia, Andy Grammer, Elmo, and many more.

Our dogs, Lady and Merlin are R.E.A.D. Therapy certified.  If you would like to schedule them to visit your organization, call 727-421-1341. 

For more information about R.E.A.D.®, click on the R.E.A.D. Therapy tab at the top of this page.

Therapy Thursday: Meet Candy!

On Therapy Thursday, we highlight other Therapy Animals and the services they provide.

Candy is a handicapped therapy dog.  In this is a picture, she is visiting a resident at Roman Eagle Nursing Home in Danville, Virginia. She loves going to see the folks at Roman Eagle, and the residents love her visits! Candy has been in her wheelchair since she was 3 months old. She was adopted from the animal shelter.  When she received her wheels, she was off and running. She loves to go shopping and to run in her wheels.

Submitted to the Therapy Dogs Inc. Facebook page

 by Sandy Bash

Therapy Thursday: Meet Spartacus!

On Therapy Thursday, we highlight other Therapy Animals and the services they provide.

Meet Spartacus, the therapy dog. Samantha “Sammy”, age 9, is “an amazing little girl who has been through a lot,” said her mother Jill. Sammy was among the Sandy Hook School students who fled the building on 12/14 when a shooter opened fire in the school.

After this traumatic experience Jill took her daughter, Sammy, to READ Intermediate School where Sammy met Spartacus, the therapy dog, and they formed a very special bond. Spending time in therapy with Spartacus made Sammy feel more comfortable in talking with adults. On one visit Spartacus spent two and a half hours with her, and when it was time to go she did not want to leave!  Brad, Spartacus's owner said that when he took Sparticus to get therapy certified, Spartacus was the only dog out of 13 dogs in the training program that achieved certification!

Spartacus helps Sammy feel safe and calm during their visits. These visits helped Sammy talk more to people and let her open up more.

Therapy Thursday: Meet Amos, the Therapy Horse!

On Therapy Thursday, we highlight other Therapy Animals and the services they provide.

Carrots or kisses? Amos the Wonder Horse likes them both.

Amos is a miniature registered therapy horse who visited the kids at All Children's Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine on Monday and scored a few kisses from Ellie while Zoie looked on. At just a little more than three feet tall Amos is the perfect size for these kids.

Amos is no ordinary horse. Standing only three feet tall, this tiny equine is known world-wide for bringing smiles everywhere he goes. His basketball skills have made him an international star, but it’s his therapy visits that touch the hearts of so many.

Amos is also the first and only miniature therapy horse to have his own bullying prevention program – Just Say Whoa™ to Bullying. This innovative program utilizes animal-assisted activities to help teach children.

Therapy Thursday: Meet Boomer!

On Therapy Thursday, we highlight other Therapy Animals and the services they provide.

Boomer is one of several certified therapy dogs that make rounds at All Children's Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine to provide their own kind of special care.

In a hospital setting, the appearance of a dog can a provide a positive focus for patients, their families and staff alike. Boomer is just one of many volunteer dogs that serve at the hospital.

Therapy dogs, like Boomer, bring a smile to the patients and their families, and make their hospital stay more cheerful. Certified Pet Therapy Dogs, along with their owners, visit patients’ bedside.  When a child sees a cuddly dog in during their hospital stay, their eyes light up and their anxiety floats away.