About two and a half years ago, ROAR board member and professional dog trainer, Mary Jo Duffy took ROAR's existing Therapy Dog program, revamped it and revitalized it. "Before I came to ROAR they did their training with an independent trainer through Therapy Dogs International. It never felt like ROAR's. There wasn't a trainer from ROAR and there was no volunteer support. That's why ROAR brought me onto the board, to take the program and tweak it to make it ours," explains Duffy.
Today, The program is ROARing with energy. Seven furry friends wag their tails each week as they visit people in need of a little unconditional love and companionship. The certified therapy dogs and their handlers are actively visiting schools, elder-care facilities, libraries and hospice care centers in and around Fairfield County and Westchester. "We have been doing regular visits to many of the area elementary schools, assisted living centers and libraries," says Duffy.
So, how does one go about being part of ROAR's Therapy Dog Program? Duffy and her team of ROAR volunteers screen the dogs and handlers to see if they are potential candidates for ROAR's Therapy Dog Program. The already certified therapy dogs are present during the screening process to assure the four legged candidates do not display aggression or agitation around other dogs. "It's a one shot deal. I take a look then if they pass the screening they go to step two, which is the classes," says Duffy.
Presently, the classes are held on Wednesday evenings during the months of April and May from 6:30-7:30pm at Ridgefield Academy- both indoors and out. The cost for the classes is $135.00. "There are five classes, one per week," says Duffy. My goal with getting these five weeks under their belt is to create a strong bond between the owner and the dog- they need to be a team so that no matter what else is going on in the world, the dog is always checking back in with his owner," explains Duffy.
During the series of classes, Duffy role plays with the dogs and handlers to assure the dogs can remain calm and focused in a variety of unpredictable situations. "What would happen with this dog on a visit to an elder-care facility if a man came in on a wheel chair? You have to be prepared for anything," says Duffy. This includes exposing your dog to wheelchairs, canes, walkers and crutches in order to build solid attention skills and team work between the dog and handler. "The other day we were at the Mark Twain Library in Redding and a little girl started to scream but the dog was absolutely fine," says Duffy.
The duo is certified upon the successful completion of the five classes; when the dog and handler have proven that they are a strong team that can remain calm and focused in a variety of situations. "Certification means that you have insurance coverage and the dogs are appropriate for the program," says Duffy. This liability insurance protects the handlers on visits should something unforeseen happen to them. Upon getting certified, the dogs are given a ROAR Therapy Dog vest which they proudly wear to all therapy visits. "When I put the vest on Bode, she knows she's going to work," proclaims therapy dog volunteer, Didi Tulloch.
Whether the therapy dog is listening to a young child read in elementary school, or sitting calmly as an older person can pets them, lives are being enriched because of their presence. Therapy dog team Lori Mazzola and Fonzie frequently visit an elder-care facility. "I brought Fonzie to visit an Alzheimer's patient whose daughter was visiting at the same time. It was the third time that I had visited the patient and upon entering the room, the patient had recognized Fonzie. Her daughter told me her mom doesn't recognize her, but she did remember Fonzie," says Mazzola.