‘It’s an amazing program’

BRANDON — There are seven new graduates of a Westman therapy program who will soon be visiting personal care homes, hospitals, schools and businesses now that they’ve mastered how to sit, heel and socialize.

The St. John Ambulance’s Therapy Dog Program is always looking for dogs and their handlers who are good together as a team and are comfortable in situations with people of all ages from an audience of one, to a large and noisy crowd.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the program — which has almost 30 years of proven success across the province — was put on pause in the Wheat City. But it’s now back up and running said Jodee Webster with Brandon St. John Ambulance.

“It’s an amazing program,” Webster said. “We typically send our therapy dogs out for an hour and a half to hospitals, care homes and schools. We have one dog that goes to Riverheights School and one that goes to Dinsdale, the personal care home. But we need more, we’re starting at ground zero, and that’s why we had the weekend evaluations.”

There were two evaluation sessions held Saturday at the St. John Ambulance’s Brandon office, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, where each team of dog and handler were subjected to several challenges and scenarios.

One exercise simulated what a visit to a health care facility or a personal care home would be like with volunteer actors moving around the team in a wheelchair, on crutches and using a cane. At one point, someone stomped through the crowd followed by the sound of a metal bowl falling to the ground.

In another situation, the dog is approached by several people at once, something that is bound to happen at a school, said evaluator Claire Mackley.

Mackley, who is also a member of the therapy dog program and a volunteer with St. John Ambulance, said she watches both the dog and handler through each of the sessions.

“We’re looking for the dog to be obedient, whether it shows signs of fear or aggression,” said Mackley. “And we’re looking for the handler to show that they can read their dog and that they have good general control.

“Can they walk up to a person, shake hands and the dog will be waiting, showing good manners?” she said.

Finnegan O’Reilly is a two-year-old Irish wolfhound from Brandon and is about four feet tall. His owner, Rochelle Preston, said she decided to bring him into the program because he always attracts attention.

“Finnegan draws people in because of his size,” Preston said. “We were at an event at the Riverbank Discovery Centre and there were some nonverbal adults there and he was so good. He had never been in an environment like that before, but he just seemed to know,” she said.

“We’re so happy that Finnegan passed. He just brings a lot of joy, making people happy,” Preston said.

Before a dog is accepted into the evaluation phase of the program, it must be at least a year old and be on a regular regiment of veterinary vaccinations including rabies, parvovirus, distemper and adenovirus — a viral infection. It is also recommended that dogs be vaccinated for leptospirosis, which is a bacterial infection.

The owner must be 18 years of age or older, provide a reference letter of support and documents proving completion of a criminal record check as well as an adult and child abuse registry check.

Benefits of therapy dogs include increased social connection, increased oxytocin, which is a bonding hormone, and decreased stress hormones, according to the Prairie Mountain Health website.

Paisley is a three-year-old miniature Australian shepherd from Killarney who also achieved her therapy dog status on Saturday. Her owner, Heather Heinrichs, said she got a tear in her eye when the evaluators let her know.

“I was super emotional,” Heinrichs said. “I knew she had it in her. She was a little excited when we got here, so I was worried, but she settled right in and showed how good she was.

“Paisley is so socialized, and she loves people. But she’s also such a cuddler and will heal and be there for anyone.”

Rosie, a Corgi, is six years old and has the “right stuff” said her owner Brian Wiltshire from Brandon. Rosie is the second dog in the Wiltshire household to pass the evaluation he said.

“Corgis have a very good smiley face, they’re very happy dogs and generally speaking — people are always happy to see her.

“When we take her for walks, she shows very good behaviour and a very good demeanour, and she just loves people,” said Wiltshire.

The benefits of the therapy dog program go well beyond those who are visited by the dogs, said Mackley.

“Of course, from the human perspective, we get to spend more time with our dog, and that deepens the relationship.

“But I think our dogs become more rounded canine citizens in the community, because the more that dogs work with their humans, the richer the relationship,” Mackley said.

— Brandon Sun