THE DOG GRAPEVINE 
Dedicated To DOGS and The PEOPLE Who Love Them
at
Maddie
Dog Grapevine
"Pack Leader"
It takes a team to make a Therapy Dog. You and your dog work together to bring a smile on the face of a lonely senior, a child with reading problems, a patient in the hospital, a rehabilitating veteran and more.
Definition of a Therapy Dog:
Therapy dogs should not be confused with Service dogs. Service dogs are highly trained assistance dogs to aid people with disabilities. Typically guide dogs and signal dogs are trained to aid the visually or hearing impaired. These dogs are usually trained by a professional beginning when they are young puppies, in the trainer's home, for approximately one year
There is nothing more gratifying than giving back to the community with your dog. It is important to know that your dog MUST have some obedience training. It takes more than just a 6 week intro class. Your dog must be able to be under strict control at all times, and of course friendliness and a loving disposition is the key!
Personalities and Breeds: All breeds whether pure bred or mixed are suitable to be Therapy Dogs. Large and small dogs alike are welcomed guests to facilitate rehabilitation and happiness as long as they have a good disposition.
Dog Therapy Organizations:
Delta Society Pet Partners Programs
875 124TH Avenue, NE
Suite 101
Bellevue, WA 98005 U.S.A.
(425) 679-5500
E-mail: info @ deltasociety.org
People have long been intrigued by the complex emotional relationships between people and animals. Today, an impressive number of studies demonstrates the incredible benefits that result from these special relationships. Delta is a human service organization that transforms this growing body of scientific information into practical applications for everyday life. Delta's mission is to promote animals helping people improve their health, independence and quality of life.
Therapy Dogs Incorporated
P.O. Box 20227
Cheyenne WY 82003
Phone: 877-843-7364
Phone: 307-432-0272
Fax: 307-638-2079
therapydogsinc @ qwestoffice.net
Therapy Dogs International, Inc.
88 Bartley Road
Flanders, NJ 07836
(973) 252-9800 (Voice) (973) 252-7171 (Fax)
E-mail: tdi @ gti.net
The Foundation for Pet Provided Therapy, Inc. (AKA Love on a Leash)
PO Box 6308
Oceanside, CA 92058
(760) 740-2326
E Mail :info @ loveonaleash.org
Love on a Leash is a nonprofit public charity. It provides guidelines for the screening, selection and training of potential therapy dogs, certification of trained dogs participating in its program, continuing education of therapy dog handlers, and education to health care/recreation professionals as to the value of therapy dogs. Large chapters everywhere from St. Louis to Oshkosh to Ventura. Call or e-mail for local chapters.
Alpha Affiliates, Inc.
PO Box 176
Mendham, NJ 07945 0176
Telephone (973) 539-2770
Fax (973) 644-0610
E Mail AlphaAffiliates @ webtv.net
Alpha was founded in 1987 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the benefits between people and animals through education. Their entire staff is volunteer and as an organization has been designated by the IRS 501 (c) (3) Resources include videos, printed material from their seminars, advance directive for pet care, etc. Membership includes their quarterly publication Alpha Bits.
The Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Inc.
80 Powder Mill Road
Morris Plains, New Jersey
(888) 738-5770
Contact: June Golden
E-mail: info @ golden-dogs.org
The Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Inc. is a nonprofit organization which evaluates, tests, trains, qualifies and supports therapy dogs for the purpose of giving loving and empathic support in nursing homes, hospitals, psychiatric wards and other facilities where emotional service dogs are indispensable. They have programs and evaluators in 28 states. They also have long distance qualification.
Paws For Friendship, Inc.
P O Box 341378
Tampa, FL 33694
(813) 961-2822
(402) 850-7476
Jan Schmidt, President
E-mail: jenniesmom @ pawsforfriendshipinc.org
They are a Certified International Animal Assistance Therapy Organization that has opened many Chapters all over the United States, Canada and Europe.