By Felicia Steik, Editor
Therapy Dogs International (TDI) is a non-profit organization that brings qualified therapy dogs to nursing homes, hospitals, and other places where the comfort and love of an animal is needed and appreciated.
This group believes that therapy dogs promote healing and increase emotional well being, according to TDI’s website. Each and every dog is tested to the highest standard to ensure the dogs will be calm and loving in the facilities.
Sharon Henryson owns a therapy dog named Kloe. Her program is through Therapy Dogs Incorporated. They are slightly different companies working for a common cause.
While TDI’s evaluation includes obedience tests as far as getting evaluated, Therapy Dogs Incorperated watches how you and your dog interact with the hospital patients in a three part process according to Henryson.
“Kloe is very interactive. She likes to play with the kids [at the hospital],” said Henryson.
Last year alone, 24,000 therapy dogs were registered with TDI. They are found all over the United States as well as parts of Canada. This organization was founded in 1976 in New Jersey, according to TDI’s website.
Petting the dogs has been clinically proven to lower blood pressure, relieve stress and ease depression according to TDI’s website.
TDI also has a program called “Tail Waggin’ Tutors” where kids who are having trouble reading go to their local libraries and read to the therapy dogs.
Therapy Dogs Inc. also has a similar program called “Reading to Rover”. Henryson’s dog is involved in this program.
“I make bookmarks for the all the kids,” said Henryson.
Not only is Kloe a part of the program, she is the poster dog for Elgin library’s “Reading to Rover” program.
“TDI’s reading program is a wonderful opportunity for children to interact with and learn about dogs in a positive manner,” said TDI’s website.
For further information about training, and the need for therapy dogs, go to tdi-dog.org or there will be a Therapy Dog evaluation Dec. 1 at 10 a.m. at Superdogz Training Center in Sugar Grove. Pre-registration is required.
