Our Dogs
Therapy Dog Spotlight
Without our volunteers, CANINE THERAPY CORPS and its work would not be possible. Take the time to meet some of our canine volunteers!
Gemma and Kali
We are Doberman Pinschers who live together, play together and work
together at Swedish Covenant Hospital. In fact, some people think they are
seeing double when we come in! We work with patients who have had an
accident or surgery: helping them to regain balance, strength and energy
by tirelessly retrieving balls on command. We love to jump through hoops
and over hurdles when we play "circus dog". We also try to teach them hand
signals to improve range of motion. They are delighted with our stamina
and enthusiasm, and we are delighted by their progress, their smiles and
their praise! We are individuals though!
Spencer
photo courtesy of Barb Levant - thank you!
- I was certified in October
2006...on my first try, I might add. I don't know why that's important,
but that's what my mom keeps telling people.
- I am a Bernese Mountain Dog, born 4/2/2005.
-
Programs where I have volunteered: Rice Child and Family Center in
Evanston. Man those kids are cute! And they pet me a lot.
-
Things that I have learned from humans. Be nice and share your toys. If
you act really adorable, humans will give you lots of treats.
Tootsie
On Monday nights, when I see my blue vest, I know it's time
to go to Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital! After all, since 2002, I
have been helping people reach higher, stretch farther and walk
straighter, and a dog remembers these important things. I am proud
to be a member of Canine Therapy Corps because our teams understand how hard it is
to heal after an accident or surgery and how important it is to try and
make that hard work a bit more fun. We are so lucky to be able to touch so
many people's lives, even if it's for just a little while...and we DO make
a difference!
Daisy
At the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, the people I work with
are recovering from strokes, head trauma, spinal-cord injuries and other
terrible accidents. Some of them don't use their voices very well and some
have trouble moving their arms. Sometimes, one of the clients will brush
me - carefully - because my hair is very curly! The client will have to
grasp the brush and move their arm repetitively. It may seem like an
easy task, but it's not if you've had a stroke. Curling your hand around
an object to pick it up, hold it and use it can be a real challenge. But
once accomplished, they can work with other things that will help them
become more independent and get home faster...and I go home looking
fabulous - it's a win-win situation for us!
Gracie
I'm a Belgian sheepdog, so I keep a careful watch over the people in my
program at Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital, including my roommate
Kobi, who is also a Canine Therapy Corps dog. Those natural instincts help make
me a good therapy dog, but I also have to be obedient, responding to
verbal commends and hand signals without hesitation, even if my client
speaks in a slurred voice or can't move his arms well. I have to run
through tunnels, jump hoops, catch balls and stop and sit on a moment's
notice, even if the other dogs are still fetching all around me. I must
take treats gently from and injured hand and NEVER jump up onto a client,
because the people I work with can be very fragile. It's an important job,
but I can handle it!
Ria
I'm a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, so I was born to work hard. That's why I
love my work at Somerset Place, helping adults with emotional
challenges feel better about themselves, learn new skills and make new
friends. It is hard for them to stay focused sometimes, but I follow the
residents' commands, doing agility work and practicing special tricks.
They are often surprised at how well I listen and respond to them, it
encourages them to keep trying. I'm licking my lips just thinking about
all the treats I'll get as a reward!
Coco Latte
Have you ever heard of an Italian Spinone? It is hard to pronounce, but
the little kids at Advocate Lutheran General Children’s Hospital have even
bigger challenges. They are all on the autism spectrum; some can’t talk at all, but that
doesn’t matter to me. I sit very still while they touch my soft coat or
point to my ears or my tail when they are asked by a therapist. I can jump
over hurdles, even if I have a little trouble understanding them when they
ask, because my human companion gives me a hand signal as a clue (the kids
don’t know the clues yet). They try hard to communicate and my tricks are
the motivation! You should hear the laughter – it just makes my day!
Max
I’m a Cairn terrier, the ONLY terrier in CANINE THERAPY CORPS. That makes me one
of a kind, just like the kids at Easter Seals' Autism Therapeutic School. The
children have autism. But
they all have one thing in common: they love to learn and play games, just
like me! We play games where we match the picture to the dog, or we work
an agility course where I jump hurdles, run through a tunnel, stop on a
special spot and do figure eights…but only if they tell me in a loud
voice or with a big hand signal. These kids face their challenges with
terrier-like determination and the desire to be the best that they can be.
I help them by providing the motivation to keep trying. Who could ask for
more than that?