What has MVPTA Done For Me
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Miami Valley Pet Therapy Associates introduced me to not only my best friend but the person that saved my life. I was diagnosed with Metastatic Osteosarcoma when I was 15 years old. I was staying at Dayton Children’s fighting my battle. At the beginning of my journey I was introduced to an amazing dog. His name was Remy. I remember the day my dad walked into my room and said Shelby I found somebody down in the lobby for you. I turned around and there was a gorgeous Golden Retriever standing at the door. I felt like a whole new person that day. Being in the hospital I was away from my dogs back home and I missed their comfort. But Remy wasn’t just any kind of dog. He honestly is the reason I am here today. Remy's amazing owner Debbie brought him in every Wednesday to see me. That was the first day for my chemo cycles and a lot of anxiety came on Wednesdays but I always knew in the back of my head that I got to see Remy and that calmed all my anxiety. I remember asking Debbie if Remy was allowed on my bed and she said only if I wanted him to. Of course I said yes. So every Wednesday Remy and I cuddled up on my bed while they started my chemo cycle and we took a nap. Even when I wasn’t at the hospital all Remy wanted to do was go into my room and lay next to my empty hospital bed. He thought I wasn’t coming back. Towards the middle of my journey I began to get very sick. I couldn’t eat, I was losing a lot of weight and energy. The doctors told me if I didn’t start eating I was getting a feeding tube. That’s when Debbie came in and told me “Shelby you can give Remy a cheerio but you have to eat 3” and so we did just that and the next week I was up to the weight my doctors wanted me at. All because of Debbie and Remy. But not only did he help me mentally and physically he helped my whole family. They knew I felt at home with Remy. They all grew a very close bond with him. Remy became such a big part of my life. When my cancer was gone and it was time to get my senior pictures done for high school I called Debbie and asked if I could get them done with Remy. Not knowing that it would be the last time I saw him as he lost his fight with cancer the following March.
Thank you for sharing such an amazing dog.
Shelby
Thank you for sharing such an amazing dog.
Shelby
Sophie Sue Goodwin "Best Dog Ever"
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It is with a heavy heart and great sadness to announce that on Thursday, March 17 at 9am, Sophie Sue Goodwin crossed the rainbow bridge. She passed very peacefully with Sandy Goodwin at her side.
At nearly 14 years old, she earned her title "Best Dog Ever". Always eager to please made her the perfect Pet Therapy Dog. She always had her toenails painted and that brought many smiles to the faces of the people she was visiting with. Over the years she treated 100's of patients and made her parents very proud. Sandy and Bob Goodwin
At nearly 14 years old, she earned her title "Best Dog Ever". Always eager to please made her the perfect Pet Therapy Dog. She always had her toenails painted and that brought many smiles to the faces of the people she was visiting with. Over the years she treated 100's of patients and made her parents very proud. Sandy and Bob Goodwin
The Story of Oaklee Grace Darrah
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Oaklee Grace Darrah came to us as a puppy from 4 Paws for Ability as she was a breeder dog for them. She had 30 puppies that were then placed with children who were Autistic as their service dogs. Her claim to fame was that her Daddy Norman was on the Bissell Sweeper box in 2010. In 2010 I certified her with MVPTA as a therapy dog. We visited many places but for 10 years every Wednesday we were at Upper Valley Medical Center where she brought so much joy to Cancer Center patients, patients, staff, doctors, nurses, and families. She was good at saying her prayers and did it happily for all. She has left a legacy of wonderful 4 paws dogs owned by Teresa Bowers who has her daughter Minnie Pearl, Granddaughter Kumba, Great grandson Peanut, niece and nephew Boo and Buddy. She was loved to the end by her Vet Dr. Susan and all the staff at Tipp City Vets. She was a joy every day of her life and we miss her terribly. She touched so many lives in her 11 and a half years and I am so honored she was our girl. Her sister Charlotte is lost without her buddy. We know she was only loaned to us and now that our loan is up she is pain free. May our wonderful memories of her heal our broken heart. As my husband says when we say her name and not cry but smile then we will know we are better.
Karyl and Jack Darrah
Karyl and Jack Darrah
Jake the Rescue Dog
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It is with great sadness that I share with you the passing of Jake. Jake was diagnosed with cancer that had spread throughout his abdomen area and there was nothing that the veterinarians could do to save him.
Jake was a rescue dog who lived in my friend Nancy’s woods for almost a year. It took all that time for Nancy to finally be able to pet him and earn his trust. I adopted him shortly after Nancy was able to rescue him. Jake lived with me for the past 10 years.
As many of you know, Jake was a general therapy dog for 8 years who mainly visited Hospice and Miami Valley Hospital. He visited with countless individuals who were sick or in there last days life. He gravitated to persons who had Alzheimer’s when we occasionally visited nursing homes. He had an innate sense of being able to read a situation he was experiencing and behave accordingly. Many times he would gently crawl into bed with patients and lay his head on their laps calming them and giving them comfort. He was an ambassador for Miami Valley Pet Therapy Association until he retired in 2020. Jake also visited many of you as he was able to come to work with me every day at the Contact Center. I will be forever grateful I was able to share him with all of you and for Red Roof affording me the opportunity to have him at work with me every day.
I want to thank all of you for being so kind to Jake as he always enjoyed visiting with everyone on the floor and getting treats from many of you!
He was a joy to be around and will be dearly missed by many…
Jake was a rescue dog who lived in my friend Nancy’s woods for almost a year. It took all that time for Nancy to finally be able to pet him and earn his trust. I adopted him shortly after Nancy was able to rescue him. Jake lived with me for the past 10 years.
As many of you know, Jake was a general therapy dog for 8 years who mainly visited Hospice and Miami Valley Hospital. He visited with countless individuals who were sick or in there last days life. He gravitated to persons who had Alzheimer’s when we occasionally visited nursing homes. He had an innate sense of being able to read a situation he was experiencing and behave accordingly. Many times he would gently crawl into bed with patients and lay his head on their laps calming them and giving them comfort. He was an ambassador for Miami Valley Pet Therapy Association until he retired in 2020. Jake also visited many of you as he was able to come to work with me every day at the Contact Center. I will be forever grateful I was able to share him with all of you and for Red Roof affording me the opportunity to have him at work with me every day.
I want to thank all of you for being so kind to Jake as he always enjoyed visiting with everyone on the floor and getting treats from many of you!
He was a joy to be around and will be dearly missed by many…
Teddy the Volunteer Therapy Dog
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Teddy LOVED to visit! It didn’t matter whether it was his weekly second grade group for reading, being in a Lewis and Clark play (as he walked across the stage the kids cheered and he LOVED it!) the students at UD Law and Disability Services, the Family Violence Prevention Center, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Dept., posing for pictures at Barnes and Nobles, etc. He loved all the people he met and loved all the attention he got! I always said that Teddy GOT as much as he GAVE. It has been such a pleasure to be at the other end of Ted’s leash, because he knew how to make folks smile….
Sincerely,
Paula Teddy's handler
Post from Montgomery County Sheriff Office:
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Volunteer Therapy Dog, Teddy. The MCSO Pet therapy initiative was designed to support mental health wellness among inmates and staff and for their dedication to service, Teddy and his handler Paula were one of the 3 pairs of volunteers honored as the 2020 Volunteers of the Year. Teddy and Paula had even made a special trip to visit victims of the Memorial Day Tornadoes.
Thank you so much to Teddy and Paula for their service to the community and for bringing so many smiles and comfort to the Sheriff's Office. #YouWillBeMissed Miami Valley Pet Therapy Association (MVPTA)”
If you would like to support Teddy's mission you can donate today!
Sincerely,
Paula Teddy's handler
Post from Montgomery County Sheriff Office:
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Volunteer Therapy Dog, Teddy. The MCSO Pet therapy initiative was designed to support mental health wellness among inmates and staff and for their dedication to service, Teddy and his handler Paula were one of the 3 pairs of volunteers honored as the 2020 Volunteers of the Year. Teddy and Paula had even made a special trip to visit victims of the Memorial Day Tornadoes.
Thank you so much to Teddy and Paula for their service to the community and for bringing so many smiles and comfort to the Sheriff's Office. #YouWillBeMissed Miami Valley Pet Therapy Association (MVPTA)”
If you would like to support Teddy's mission you can donate today!
The Worth of my Dog
After a conversation last night at dinner I have tried to understand how to explain why I have spent the amount of money I have treating my dog with cancer. Let me first say I would do it again if I had too.
My beautiful Remy is a therapy dog. Which makes him no more special then any of the beloved dogs of any of you reading this but let me tell you about him. I have seen him take away the tears of a child having their blood drawn before surgery. I have seen him clear a playground because the kids would rather hang on him instead of the monkey bars. I have seen him take away the stress of a women with a drug addiction before she faces the judge. I have watched him bring back the memories of the elderly and the dogs they loved so much growing up. I have watch him bring out the words of a women in a wheelchair that had not spoken in over 5 years. I have watched him listen with his caring soulful eyes to my heartbreaks, frustrations and worries just to look at me and say “ I’ve got you mom and I love you unconditionally.” I have also watched him take away the stress of the family worried about the fate of their terminally ill child. Last but not least, I have seen him climb into the bed of a small child at Children’s with cancer who has not been able to sleep in over 3 days because the chemo has them so agitated and within 10 minutes of laying with them they are peacefully sleeping. Now he is fighting for his life and I will do and spend whatever I have to to return the favor. He is my heart light. He is my best friend and his “Golden” worth is priceless. In closing , let me just say all of these things he has done is because humans couldn’t.
Sincerely,
Debbie
My beautiful Remy is a therapy dog. Which makes him no more special then any of the beloved dogs of any of you reading this but let me tell you about him. I have seen him take away the tears of a child having their blood drawn before surgery. I have seen him clear a playground because the kids would rather hang on him instead of the monkey bars. I have seen him take away the stress of a women with a drug addiction before she faces the judge. I have watched him bring back the memories of the elderly and the dogs they loved so much growing up. I have watch him bring out the words of a women in a wheelchair that had not spoken in over 5 years. I have watched him listen with his caring soulful eyes to my heartbreaks, frustrations and worries just to look at me and say “ I’ve got you mom and I love you unconditionally.” I have also watched him take away the stress of the family worried about the fate of their terminally ill child. Last but not least, I have seen him climb into the bed of a small child at Children’s with cancer who has not been able to sleep in over 3 days because the chemo has them so agitated and within 10 minutes of laying with them they are peacefully sleeping. Now he is fighting for his life and I will do and spend whatever I have to to return the favor. He is my heart light. He is my best friend and his “Golden” worth is priceless. In closing , let me just say all of these things he has done is because humans couldn’t.
Sincerely,
Debbie
Animal-Assisted Therapy Team Brings Comfort
and Joy to Patients and Families
It’s a Monday morning, and Ellie Ling and her golden retriever animal-assisted therapy dog, Phoebe-Rose, are preparing for their weekly visit to the Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton Hospice House.
“My grandma received care from Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton at home when she was nearing the end of her life. Even though I was still pretty young at the time, I could see that my mom always seemed very at peace with the care that my grandma was receiving,” Ellie said. “The dedication and care that Hospice gave was as if they were also part of the family.”
Two years later, Ellie’s mom took a horticulture class and completed an internship at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton to care for the beautiful gardens on the grounds. Seeing her mom’s positive experience sparked Ellie’s interest in volunteering, and she started with landscaping and art therapy with the Art Cart. She continues to be involved with the Art Forever After Bereavement Group and animal-assisted therapy.
“When I was in grade school, we had visits from a therapy dog, Bronwyn, who was specifically a reading dog for children,” she said. “She was sweet, calm, and content with being read to. Ever since then, I have wanted to train a dog in the hopes of it becoming a therapy dog.”
Phoebe-Rose
In December 2019, Ellie adopted Phoebe-Rose, who was eight weeks old, and started the journey to achieving that goal. Through Miami Valley Pet Therapy Association (MVPTA), Ellie and Phoebe-Rose underwent a pre-screening to determine personality fit and a basic obedience skills test before beginning training.
“Once accepted, we had lectures, practice and homework, which included visiting pet-friendly stores to meet and be petted by strangers. Phoebe-Rose really loves people. So, she enjoyed her homework,” Ellie said. “In class, we practiced reinforcing good behavior, reacting to distractions, and socializing to different scenarios and medical equipment.”
Volunteering at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton
Phoebe-Rose and Ellie have been certified since Nov. 3, 2021, and they started visiting patients at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton on Nov. 15, 2021.
“Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton is so welcoming not only to its human volunteers, but also its animal-assisted therapy volunteers. Seeing patients, families, friends, and staff light up the second Phoebe-Rose walks in the room is something that never gets tiring for me as the handler,” she said. “We also enjoy that every week is different and brings new friends to meet. Some weeks we get to provide many patients with bedside therapy. Other weeks we see whole families with kids, and Phoebe-Rose performs some of her tricks for them.”
Phoebe-Rose is dedicated to everything she does, from learning new tricks for her YouTube channel, Hunter’s Moon Training, to providing animal-assisted therapy and everything in between including American Kennel Club (AKC) Rally, in which a dog and their handler move together through a course of 10-20 signs, displaying their skills, and AKC Fast CAT®, a coursing ability test that times how fast a dog can run. She also plans to start dock diving next summer.
“When it comes to therapy work, she seems to know exactly what to do,” Ellie said. “She loves to smile wherever she goes because, I believe, she knows how much of an impact she makes in other people’s lives, and especially my life.”
We’re grateful to Ellie and Phoebe-Rose for their support of our mission!
About Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton
Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, an affiliate of Ohio’s Hospice, is a not-for-profit hospice provider. Since 1978, it has served patients and families in the Dayton region in their homes, extended care and assisted living facilities, and the Hospice House location in Dayton. A variety of grief support services are available to the entire community through the Pathways of HopeSM Grief Counseling Center. Support and education are provided by a team of counselors and social workers, all with significant experience and expertise in assisting grieving children, adolescents and adults. Pathways of Hope was established in 2002. Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton serves more than 1,000 patients and families daily, achieving national recognition for innovative services and outstanding care.
Reference: www.ohioshospice.org/animal-assisted-therapy-phoebe-rose/
“My grandma received care from Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton at home when she was nearing the end of her life. Even though I was still pretty young at the time, I could see that my mom always seemed very at peace with the care that my grandma was receiving,” Ellie said. “The dedication and care that Hospice gave was as if they were also part of the family.”
Two years later, Ellie’s mom took a horticulture class and completed an internship at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton to care for the beautiful gardens on the grounds. Seeing her mom’s positive experience sparked Ellie’s interest in volunteering, and she started with landscaping and art therapy with the Art Cart. She continues to be involved with the Art Forever After Bereavement Group and animal-assisted therapy.
“When I was in grade school, we had visits from a therapy dog, Bronwyn, who was specifically a reading dog for children,” she said. “She was sweet, calm, and content with being read to. Ever since then, I have wanted to train a dog in the hopes of it becoming a therapy dog.”
Phoebe-Rose
In December 2019, Ellie adopted Phoebe-Rose, who was eight weeks old, and started the journey to achieving that goal. Through Miami Valley Pet Therapy Association (MVPTA), Ellie and Phoebe-Rose underwent a pre-screening to determine personality fit and a basic obedience skills test before beginning training.
“Once accepted, we had lectures, practice and homework, which included visiting pet-friendly stores to meet and be petted by strangers. Phoebe-Rose really loves people. So, she enjoyed her homework,” Ellie said. “In class, we practiced reinforcing good behavior, reacting to distractions, and socializing to different scenarios and medical equipment.”
Volunteering at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton
Phoebe-Rose and Ellie have been certified since Nov. 3, 2021, and they started visiting patients at Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton on Nov. 15, 2021.
“Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton is so welcoming not only to its human volunteers, but also its animal-assisted therapy volunteers. Seeing patients, families, friends, and staff light up the second Phoebe-Rose walks in the room is something that never gets tiring for me as the handler,” she said. “We also enjoy that every week is different and brings new friends to meet. Some weeks we get to provide many patients with bedside therapy. Other weeks we see whole families with kids, and Phoebe-Rose performs some of her tricks for them.”
Phoebe-Rose is dedicated to everything she does, from learning new tricks for her YouTube channel, Hunter’s Moon Training, to providing animal-assisted therapy and everything in between including American Kennel Club (AKC) Rally, in which a dog and their handler move together through a course of 10-20 signs, displaying their skills, and AKC Fast CAT®, a coursing ability test that times how fast a dog can run. She also plans to start dock diving next summer.
“When it comes to therapy work, she seems to know exactly what to do,” Ellie said. “She loves to smile wherever she goes because, I believe, she knows how much of an impact she makes in other people’s lives, and especially my life.”
We’re grateful to Ellie and Phoebe-Rose for their support of our mission!
About Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton
Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton, an affiliate of Ohio’s Hospice, is a not-for-profit hospice provider. Since 1978, it has served patients and families in the Dayton region in their homes, extended care and assisted living facilities, and the Hospice House location in Dayton. A variety of grief support services are available to the entire community through the Pathways of HopeSM Grief Counseling Center. Support and education are provided by a team of counselors and social workers, all with significant experience and expertise in assisting grieving children, adolescents and adults. Pathways of Hope was established in 2002. Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton serves more than 1,000 patients and families daily, achieving national recognition for innovative services and outstanding care.
Reference: www.ohioshospice.org/animal-assisted-therapy-phoebe-rose/
How Dogs Are Revolutionizing Mental Health
in an Ohio Jail
Once the “overdose capital” of the United States, Ohio’s Montgomery County is now championing novel treatments for mental health—specifically of the four-legged, furry variety—and the results are nothing short of dramatic.
Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck said bringing therapy dogs into the jail had a positive response “right away.”
Inmates are fighting less, detoxing is slightly less painful, and stress is lifted.
Further, inmates who previously wouldn’t speak come out and interact with the dogs, Streck said. That interaction is often the catalyst to seeking additional help.
“The biggest thing we took away from it was it really helped with our use-of-force rates. That number drops significantly, almost 60 percent, when the therapy dogs are around,” Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck told The Epoch Times.
“And then there’s the dog handler there that knows how to deal with issues. So, it helped [inmates] open up and deal with some anxiety.”
READ FULL ARTICLE
Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck said bringing therapy dogs into the jail had a positive response “right away.”
Inmates are fighting less, detoxing is slightly less painful, and stress is lifted.
Further, inmates who previously wouldn’t speak come out and interact with the dogs, Streck said. That interaction is often the catalyst to seeking additional help.
“The biggest thing we took away from it was it really helped with our use-of-force rates. That number drops significantly, almost 60 percent, when the therapy dogs are around,” Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck told The Epoch Times.
“And then there’s the dog handler there that knows how to deal with issues. So, it helped [inmates] open up and deal with some anxiety.”
READ FULL ARTICLE
Animals help residents at Troy nursing facility
Pets play a significant part in their owners’ mental health by keeping them calm and less depressed. Animal-assisted therapy has been around for a while, but it has become quite popular in nursing and rehabilitation homes for its benefits to senior citizens.
One place that helps to certify pets for therapy is the Miami Valley Pet Therapy Association (MVPTA) in Troy. The group is made up of 125 volunteers. Volunteer Wendy Cole has had two of her pets certified there that she takes to area nursing homes.
“Your dog should have basic obedience training before you start (certification) to make sure your dog is well-socialized,” Cole said. “We basically train you on making sure you and the dog good with other dogs, good with people, and we teach about HIPPA and different things you need to be cautious of before you go into a medical setting.”
READ FULL ARTICLE
One place that helps to certify pets for therapy is the Miami Valley Pet Therapy Association (MVPTA) in Troy. The group is made up of 125 volunteers. Volunteer Wendy Cole has had two of her pets certified there that she takes to area nursing homes.
“Your dog should have basic obedience training before you start (certification) to make sure your dog is well-socialized,” Cole said. “We basically train you on making sure you and the dog good with other dogs, good with people, and we teach about HIPPA and different things you need to be cautious of before you go into a medical setting.”
READ FULL ARTICLE
