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ABOUT US
KINDLY
CANINES is an “all volunteer” group of handlers and their kind,
gentle dogs. They have been previously tested and are registered as
Therapy Dog Teams. Together, the Canine Therapist and handler work
to make life a little better for people of all ages and needs. With a
philosophy of "changing tears to smiles and fear to wonder," lives are touched and friends are
made.
KINDLY CANINES is an local organization and
maintains that all member teams must comply with the guidelines of
Therapy Dogs, Inc., a national organization headquartered in Cheyenne,
WY.
All TEAMS must have:
1. Membership and Insurance (current and in good standing) with
Therapy Dogs, Inc., Cheyenne, WY
All DOGS must have:
1. Current County License
2. Current Shots & Health Records with copies to KINDLY CANINES
3. “I am a Therapy Dog” tag issued by Therapy Dogs, Inc.
All handlers must complete:
1. Criminal Background Investigation
2. PPD/Mantoux Test (current Tuberculosis)
3. HIPAA Training
4. Elder Abuse Training
5. READS handlers must have Child Abuse Clearance
HISTORY:
How it all began . . .
Marti Heater relocated from the Quakertown area to Chambersburg in 2003
with her two dogs –
"Sammi" - an 11 year old Golden Retriever &
"Callie" - a 3 year old English Setter
In 2001, Marti placed her Mother-in-Law in a nursing home for special
post surgery care. Mom was very upset to be in a "nursing home" and on
her first night, they took their year old puppy to see "Grandmom".
Suddenly, Callie was not the only dog there - there were dogs from the
local Therapy Dog Group called PAWS with PATIENCE who were there on
their scheduled monthly visit. "Next thing, we saw Mom laughing and
hugging a dog in her bed. The other residents also really enjoyed the
dogs and thought Callie was part of the Group - so did Callie! We were
hooked! Callie puffed up every time I said she was going to see 'Grandmom'
and once there she often pulled me into rooms to say 'hi' to her new
friends. I started taking our other dog and quickly realized that dogs
know where they are and do behave differently. Residents would ask me
where the dogs were when I showed up without a dog. The staff looked
forward to their visits because they saw reactions from a few of the
residents who where otherwise disinterested in anything. One person
actually spoke for the first time after several months of silence. WOW!
What an experience that was!"
Marti and Callie went on to become registered and Callie began her
career as a Therapy Dog. A year later Sammi joined in and took over for
Callie at the nursing homes as Callie moved on to "work" in hospitals
and become a "Reading Education Assistance Dog." Marti worked with the
President of PAWS with PATIENCE on the new R.E.A.D. program and she and
Callie started working with other dogs and children in the schools -
Title One children who needed additional support with their reading
efforts. Soon there were 15-18 dogs helping; and these children enjoyed
reading to the dogs so much that they started communicating via mail
with the dogs, reaching the children at many other levels of their
learning. Other school children wanted to know what they needed to do to
get into this group. This interest has lead to more incentive programs
emerging - using the dogs. The children in that program made so much
progress - well they made national AND international news! The R.E.A.D.
program was started in a few local Public Libraries and instantly became
a huge hit with the public.
Marti is an avid believer in children and doing whatever it takes to
encourage them to read - and making it "warm and fuzzy" has proven to be
very positive - for everyone involved!
Callie really loves "working" with her "patients" and her "students" and
offered "pawtographs" to those who read to her. Sammi simply loved
visiting anyone and being petted - as much as possible. Having
researched the Chambersburg area before they relocated, Marti worked to
qualify as a "Tester/Observer" with Therapy Dogs, Inc. It was clear that
a very large need existed in the area and with two dogs who were anxious
to start working, they began spreading the word and
KINDLY CANINES was ”born."
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