Elvira (Halstead) is proudly showing off her newest patch. She has become the first of over 80 working dogs in the Animal Samaritans, SPCA (Palm Springs, CA.) Animal Assisted Therapy program to receive the AKC title Therapy Dog (T.D.).  Animal Samaritans has been accepted as an authorized therapy dog program by the AKC and Elvira has met all the requirements for the T.D. title. Elvira is a 9 1/2 year old Standard Poodle and has specially trained to work with mild through profoundly disabled children. Animal Samaritans has a program with the local school districts and their special needs classrooms. Elvira is “bullet proof” and has a very sound, highly social temperament. She loves her kids, even when they think they should ride her!

This was sent to me today by Elvira’s mom, Sherri.  Elvira has been an active therapy dog her entire life, but the new AKC program is a great way to show off your dogs dedication and skill in this much needed community service.  As I have stated in the past, people who do therapy with their dogs are my favorite homes, and here’s why.

1.  To become a therapy dog takes training and time.  The more time you spend with your dog, the better companion you are going to have.
2.  A therapy dog must be a clean.  The homes who do therapy always keep their dogs well groomed and looking sharp.
3.  Therapy dogs are needed in our communities.  With only a few hours a month you can make a difference in the lives of many people.  If you believe I am over stating their value, you have never been on a therapy visit.  Go watch a group in action, and see the smiles they bring, the comfort they provide, and the things a disabled person will attempted just to spend a few moments touching a dog.
From the AKC website:

To earn the AKC Therapy Dog title, you and your dog must meet the following criteria:

Certified/registered by an AKC recognized therapy dog organization.
Perform a minimum of 50 visits.
The dog must be registered or listed with AKC.

All dogs are eligible to earn the AKC Therapy Dog title, including purebreds and mixed breeds. To earn the AKC Therapy Dog title, dogs must be registered or listed with AKC and have a number in order to earn a title. This includes any one of these three options:

1. AKC registration number – used by purebred dogs.
2. Enrolled in AKC’s PAL Program. PAL is Purebred Alternative Listing. PAL (formerly called ILP) is a program that allows unregistered dogs of registrable breeds to compete in AKC Performance and Companion Events. PAL dogs include the many wonderful purebred dogs who may have come from shelters or rescue without AKC registration.
3. Enrollment in AKC Canine Partners Program – used by mixed breed dogs.  A special Canine Partners enrollment form is available for mixed breed Therapy Dogs- AKC Canine Partners / Therapy Dog Enrollment Application. This form must be submitted along with the Therapy Dog title application form.

Wondering if your therapy program is already eligible for the title?  Check AKC’s list of Therapy Organizations

Need help getting your organization or dog involved with therapy or need more information on the AKC program?  Sherri would be happy to help.  Please contact us and I will put you in touch.

We tip our hats to Sherri and Elvira!

~Becky