$10,000 PetSmart Charities Grant allows for over 1,000 therapy sessions this year
Exams are a stressful time of year, and tensions are raised higher than the temperature that water boils. So what better way to bust that stress than with doggies? The Ontarion caught up with two representatives, Diane Myers and coordinator Peggy Pritchard, of Therapeutic Paws of Canada to talk about their event held last Wednesday.
Alora Griffiths: What is the difference between a therapy dog and a service dog?
Diane Myers: A therapy dog’s job is to go out and provide comfort, and help individuals to reduce stress. A therapy dog goes out and interacts with many people. A service dog [on the other hand] is working for a particular person to provide medical care. [Therapeutic dogs] go into seniors’ homes, and schools [for Paws To Read]. Paws To Read is a program where the dogs provide therapy and a child reads, it is a non-judgmental activity for the child.
AG: Tell me more about the funding you recieved.
DM: Therapeutic Paws of Canada just received $10,000 of funding from PetSmart Charities to increase our therapy dog children program. The dogs have to go through a specific evaluation to interact with children, so the program will be able to certify more children-program dogs.
AG: When did the Take A Paw foundation start?
Peggy Pritchard: The first Take A Paws event started in 2016, and since then the program has helped thousands of students. The engineering department hosts this event once in the fall and once in the spring.
AG: Any more events lined up this year?
PP: The library will be hosting another event the first week in April. We’re bringing in dogs from the St. John Ambulance therapy dog program.
AG: What’s the purpose of the event?
PP: The purpose of the events is for the students to relax and chill out with dogs. This time of the year is very stressful for students with exams. All the dogs love to be pet, and even cuddled!