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Caring Canine Toronto Therapy Dogs |
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Who are We and What do We Do? |
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We
are a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers, and funded with
volunteers’ membership fees and community donations. We offer free animal assisted therapy (AAT) and
animal assisted activity (AAA) (also called pet therapy or dog therapy) to
the Toronto communities. Our activities are covered by 2-million-dollar
liability insurance. Our Professor Dogs (therapy dogs) read
with students/children with various needs or challenges to promote healthy
self-concept, literacy, empathy, and/or social skills. Our Doctor Dogs spend quality
one-on-one time with residents in long-term care facilities, patients, and
their families. We collaborate with
community partners (e.g. schools, etc.) and also run programs of our
own. Please scratch here for more details… In addition, we
actively promote the benefits of AAT/AAA through the CACAP/AACAP international
conference, City Pulse, The Canadian
Press, The Globe
& Mail, TVOntario, TFO, Animal
Wellness Magazine,
Yahoo Video News, The Chronicle
Herald, and
The Calgary Sun, etc. Further, we
participated in a research on pet-therapy conducted by the
Ontario Veterinary
College. Lastly,
our online photo/video albums
have
accumulated over 200,000 views. |
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Our Dr. Dogs, Professor Dogs,
and Volunteers |
Our members include
working professionals, retired seniors, students, and homemakers. They are compassionate, responsible, and
committed. Family volunteer teams
(e.g. husband and wife) spend quality time with their dogs through this
volunteer work. Our therapy-dog volunteers are healthy, have TB clearance, and police-check (vulnerable-sector) clearance. Please scratch here for details… Our professional photographers volunteer to capture great memories for our clients while administrative volunteers provide vital backend support. |
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Our Doctor Dogs and
Professor Dogs are healthy and updated on vaccinations &
parasite-control. Please scratch here for details… We thank
Dr. Sandra Lefebvre from the Ontario Veterinary College,
for
her advice on infection-control issues. All Doctor Dogs and Professor Dogs have passed a thorough evaluation. They have a friendly temperament, are well socialized, and have mastered basic obedience. Please scratch here for details… |
Recognition, Training, &
Support |
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Every year, we nominate our dedicated volunteers for the Ontario Volunteer Service Awards. Past winners include therapy-dog
volunteers, photographers, and children who assist at our therapy-dog
evaluations. In addition, all volunteers are candidates of our Doctor-Dog-Of-the-Year
Award. At the end of every
year, our Professor Dogs present their students with a new hardcover book and
a certificate of excellence. We thank
our sponsors for their generous
support. |
We believe that our
clients provide our volunteers and therapy dogs with the best training. At our therapy-dog
evaluations, our evaluators provide participants with diagnostic feedback and
training tips. Most candidates
invited to return would qualify at the second attempt. New volunteers could shadow an experienced volunteer, or an experienced volunteer would mentor them on their initial visits. Further, we provide our volunteers with guidelines and training materials. |
Our Mandates |
To promote positive self-concept, emotional
health, and literacy through our Doctor/Professor dogs. To promote animal-assisted therapy and
animal-assisted activities. To promote responsible volunteering and teamwork.
To promote good
health for our Doctor/Professor dogs. |
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Disclaimer: The views expressed on our website are not
influenced in any way by our sponsors. |
Last updated:
01-2012 |