This is one of Abby’s first days in paintings as a treatment dog, and she’s doing very well.
“Our treatment dogs are meant to be pets. They are qualified as friendly and calm dogs. And a service dog is for one person, whereas treatment dogs can be petted by many people, and they only seek to cheer people up. “said Wendy Donaldson, therapy dog coordinator for Bruce-Grey-Huron St. John’s Ambulance.
For the past 30 years, St. John Ambulance have visited schools, hospitals, nursing homes and hospices to provide an uplifting time for anyone who gives them a pet.
It is a quick and loose treatment for those who want it.
“Many other people in long-term care facilities have to give up their pets. Therefore, very often, Abthrough is called by other names. We just ignore it, because other people are smiling and it’s an emotional connection. “said Mel Coultes, owner and manager of Abthrough.
Treatment dogs from St. John Ambulance FE Madill High School in Wingham, Ontario. Dec. 9, 2022 – Dogs interact with academics on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Bruce Grey-Huron’s bankruptcy of the St. Canine Therapy Program. John Ambulance. ( Scott Miller/CTV News London)
St. John Ambulance is celebrating the anniversary of the treatment dog program at Bruce Grey-Huron by calling more treatment dog “teams. “
“COVID has been our members. We went from 80 to 20Array,” Donaldson said.
Donaldson said they had returned to 34 groups of dog handlers traveling through Midwestern Ontario, but were eager to climb higher, with no special requirements.
“If someone has a nice, quiet dog and has a free hour according to the week, we’d like to be touched because we’d love for them to sign up for our organization,” Donaldson said.
Treatment dogs from St. John Ambulance FE Madill High School in Wingham, Ontario. Dec. 9, 2022. -Dogs interact with academics in the case of the 25th anniversary of the bankruptcy of Bruce Grey-Huron of St. John’s Ambulance Therapy. (Scott Miller/CTV News London)
Coultes, who has taken her former dog, and now Abby, to schools, hospitals and nursing homes for the past three years, said it’s been a really rewarding experience to make other people smile.
“I just like to give back to the community. It’s a possibility to make a stopover in other people who don’t have the opportunity to make a stopover,” he said.
To learn more about St. John Ambulance, you can reach grey. bruce. huron@sja. ca or call (519) 364-7004.