OPERATION H.E.E.L.
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Q & A

How is your program different from volunteer therapy dog teams visiting hospitals or schools?
​A:  First, Animal-Assisted Therapy can only be implemented by a health or human service provider.  Volunteer therapy dog teams visiting various settings are considered Animal-Assisted Activities, not therapy.  As a Registered Nurse and Animal-Assisted Intervention Practitioner, Cindy formulates individual wellness plans based on measurable goals and outcomes over a specific period of time.  Additionally, clients are able to work with their personal dog on and off leash, a less restrictive and more natural way to interact with each other.  If clients do not have a personal dog, Cindy will invite one of her therapy dog partners to work with the individual.  
Which children may benefit from your service?
A:  All children who enjoy learning about animals and enjoy working with animals have shown remarkable improvement in their self-esteem and self-worth, their confidence in socializing among their peers and adults, their ability to control muscle movement through light exercise, and their motivation to engage in higher learning both at school and at home.

Who may not participate in Animal-Assisted Therapy?
A:   In an effort to protect the health and well-being of both humans and canines, clients with allergies to pet dander, are immunocompromised, or have a history of violence or fear towards animals and humans may not be eligible to participate in our program. 
*Cindy offers a FREE 15-minute consultation to answer any question or concerns regarding a child's ability to participate
​*Consultation with your primary health provider is welcome and recommended before applying to this program
Our family has a dog at home, how is working with a Therapy Dog any different?
A:  The only difference between a registered therapy dog and your personal family dog is the training in obedience/manners and the desire to interact with all different personalities of humans when outside of the home.  Choosing to include the family dog in sessions not only benefits the family in being able to continue working on exercise at home but also builds upon the dog's current training plan, essentially building manners around family members.  Therapy Dogs are trained to have "manners" when working with humans of all ages and abilities and in all settings. Our goal is for clients to be able to work with a dog in an environment outside of their home to enhance the learning process for the client.
What is the difference between a Therapy Dog and a Service Dog?
A:  So glad you asked--this is our #1 question we answer every time we visit in the community!
  • Service Dogs are trained specifically to work with one person who has a diagnosed disability (such as blindness, deafness, or an invisible disability, PTSD).  They should not be distracted from working with their human handler so please refrain from asking to pet the service animal.
  • Therapy Dogs are trained in various levels of obedience to work in different settings and with many different people. They also have a natural fondness for interacting with all types of humans.  Additionally, Therapy Dogs may have a disability such as a missing leg or other sensory deficit (such as blindness).   These dogs serve as inspiration to humans that may also have disabilities.
  • All breeds of dogs can be trained to be a Service Dog or Therapy Dog (pure breeds and mixed breeds) and they may come from a responsible breeder or a rescue organization (i.e. humane society).

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What Our Clients Are Saying:

I bought a puppy knowing I wanted to train it to be an emotional support dog.  I couldn't attend group dog training classes because I got too nervous and my dog wouldn't listen to me, I thought I had an untrainable dog.  After working with you for several weeks I had no idea the potential my dog had! I truly did not even know my OWN potential, thank you"
I got a dog to help lower stress in our family, not make it more stressful by trying to train the puppy. With your knowledge of symptoms of anxiety in both my kids and myself, and dog training, you were able to give us doable exercises that both the kids and the puppy truly enjoy, and have made all of our lives so much better! 

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Photo used under Creative Commons from nicolee_camacho
  • Home
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    • Classes
    • For Military Children
    • Health Professionals
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  • About
    • The Team
    • Q&A
  • Blog