Day 1339

The Therapy Boys have attended some diverse venues lately and today was no exception. This afternoon found us at a Celebration of Life.

People are beginning to embrace Therapy Dogs at funerals, weddings, court hearings and other

gatherings. We have been asked to train for child custody hearings, counseling appointments, disaster support, airport comforting for travelers and a few other options that are unexpected.

It seems that whenever a situation has high emotions, Therapy Dogs can calm the waters. Of course, I am a great believer in this theory and have seen it play out many times. If time were endless, I could spend 24 hours a day with a dog at my side. However, I choose my visits carefully and with great thought.

Knowing myself, I realize that my own heart leans in certain directions… the elderly and young children are the ones that draw me in. I truly wish I could work in the court system or head across country to a major disaster to help survivors, but others are better with those opportunities. So, I focus on schools, senior living communities and hospital visits.

Therapy Dogs support so many in so many ways. The world is so much richer because of the multitude of Therapy Dogs with their handlers…especially those with the strength to touch lives that are simply “holding on.”