The Assistance Dog Institute |
The Assistance Dog Institute |
An elderly woman in a nursing home is visited by, Casey, the Golden Retriever, and smiles as she recalls happy childhood memories of her own favorite dog. A young boy with cerebral palsy looks forward to his physical therapy session, when he will get to stroke Fluffy, the rabbit that comes to his facility to assist the therapist. Casey and Fluffy, along with their owners, are part of a growing movement that brings together animals and people otherwise deprived of loving animal companionship.
The Assistance Dog Institute (TADI) is headquartered in Sonoma County, California, and directed by Bonita Bergin, Ed.D., internationally recognized founder of the service dog concept and Canine Companions for Independence. Under her leadership, the Assistance Dog Institute is committed to enhancing the assistance dog field worldwide.
The Institute's Social/Therapy Dog Program is supported entirely by fund-raising efforts and donations, and is dedicated to "helping animals help people". The program specifically deals with tile use and training of social/therapy animals. Trained volunteers and their pets (referred to as "teams") visit various settings and help identify the most effective applications for social/therapy animals in those environments. Ultimately, new and better social/ therapy techniques and training methods will be developed, and this information shared with volunteers as well as those taking advantage of the program's services. A speakers bureau also makes volunteers with demonstration dogs available to speak to interested schools, clubs and organizations.
If your facility, patients, residents or others could benefit from loving animal companionship, the Institute's Social/Therapy Dog teams are available to you!
No. It is free.
Yes. They are pre-screened and health-certified by a qualified veterinarian.
All animals in the program are pre-screened for temperament and basic obedience and must also pass a careful on-site evaluation.
All volunteers undergo a full orientation, and ongoing instruction is available in social/therapy techniques and training methods.
Yes. All volunteers are covered by liability insurance.
Social/therapy animal teams are available for either social interaction or for incorporation into individual therapy regimens. To request team visits or a consultation, call the Assistance Dog Institute at (707) 585-0300.
Taking advantage of the Assistance Dog Institute's Social/Therapy Dog Program can greatly enhance your level of service to patients and clients, and contribute in a positive way to your community. The service is free, and the benefits far-reaching.
If you have a loving pet that you would like to share with others, the Assistance Dog Institute wants you!
Almost any pet that likes people can find usefulness in animal social/therapy work.
Yes. All volunteers receive orientation and ongoing training in animal-assisted social/ therapy work, and learn various commands to teach their animals.
The Institute maintains a list of local facilities and programs which have requested team visits.
That is totally up to you, but the Institute requests that you make at least one facility visit and evaluation per month, and attend monthly meetings whenever possible. (Bathing, grooming and training your animals for visits will require some additional time.)
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