About Us
Canine Assisted Therapy is a non-profit,
501(c)(3) organization and relies solely on donations from the
community for support. Your donation will help us to provide
support, training, education and mentoring to those interested in
dog therapy programs. Please help us to continue our service to
those in need by donating generously today.
Thank you!
Donate to
C.A.T.
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Upcoming Events
Mutts & Martinis Yappy
Hour!
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Saturday, Sept. 10th
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
C.A.T. Temperament Evaluation
Ft. Lauderdale,
FL
Saturday, Sept. 11th
Find Out
More!
Doggy Massage
Class!
Hands on
class for you and your dog.
Wilton Manors,
FL
Saturday,
Sept. 25th
Find Out More!
Pack Reader
Volunteer
Training
Wilton Manors, FL
Saturday, Sept. 27th
Call us for more information
and to sign up
954-319-3170
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Our Sponsors
Salon Bark
"Thank You" Whole Foods Market in Ft. Lauderdale for providing food
for the August 5th Continuing Education Seminar
"Thank You!" to Bayview Center for hosting the August 5th
Continuing Education Seminar
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Volunteer Tips
- Use
your talents and skills. Find a project or program that fits your
particular interests.
- When you identify a project or program, interview the people in
charge. Make sure it's a good fit.
- Think about how you'd like to
serve. Are you more comfortable in large groups (renovating a
community center) or one-on-one (teaching someone to read)?
- Don't take on more than you
can handle. You know your limitations. Only pledge the amount of
time with which you are comfortable.
- Consider who is being helped
and know that they need you.
Find opportunities to volunteer
with your family.
- Be open to learning from the
experience. Volunteering can open your eyes in too many ways to
count.
- Find the joy in service. After all, it's not work!
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Content by C.A.T. Co-founder and Executive Director -
Debra M. Berger
Contributing Editor -
Charlotte R. Fee
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By Susan Smith - PetTravel.com
Finally, the summer heat is beginning to wane and there is a hint
of coolness in the air. Fall is a great time to load the family in
the car (including the family pet) and take off to enjoy the
scenery. Here are some great tips for bringing your pet on your
trip so that everyone will have a safe and happy trip.
If your pet is not accustomed to traveling in the car, take several
short trips several weeks ahead of your travel. Go someplace fun
like a dog park so your pet will associate car travel with a
positive experience.
Make sure your pet is healthy. Check with your vet, and renew any
shots that are due.
Be sure to give them a treatment of flea and tick medicine as some
areas may have parasites that are different from where you live.
Also necessary is a treatment of heart-worm medicine if your vet
thinks it is a good idea. Mosquitoes can infect your pet so it is
better to take precautions.
Check your pet's supplies: (pack all of your pet stuff in one small
bag where you can get to it):
- Sturdy leash and collar
- Pet name tag (hopefully it has a cell phone number on it)
- A picture of your pet in case your pet gets separated from
you
- Bottled water, and a water dish (preferably the kind that does
not spill)
- Supply of their pet food, a dish and maybe a spoon, and don't
forget the treats
- Any medication that your dog is taking and the phone number of
your pet's veterinarian
- A few chews and a toy or two
- A pet restraint device (carrier, crate, or harness)
- Plastic Bags for picking up after your dog
Feed your pet a light meal several hours before you depart and then
take them for a long walk before you start your trip.
GETTING THE CAR READY
Create a place where your pet can ride safely and still see out the
window, while still being able to be touched by you. Sitting in
your lap while you are driving is not the best idea. Pets can cause
distractions to both drivers and passengers and cause accidents if
not properly restrained when the car is in motion.
Whether your pet rides in a carrier, crate, or restraining device
is up to the size and temperament of the pet. Remember that it is
more important to keep your pet safe than allow them to move about
the car freely.
A blanket or a soft pet bed would be great so they feel at home. If
your cat is traveling with you make a place for the kitty litter.
First lay down a piece of plastic (a trash bag will do).
TRAVELING DOWN THE
HIGHWAY
Chances are, when you are on the road, your pet will sleep ninety
percent of the time when they are not looking out the window or
getting pets from you. Break up the driving every two to three
hours, especially for smaller animals. Always leash your pet before
taking them out of the car.
NEVER LEAVE THEM ALONE IN THE
CAR
Modern cars are virtually air tight and a pet left alone in a car
is at risk of not getting enough air, or suffering from heat. Even
though the air temperature is only 70F (20C) a car in the sun can
get hot very quickly.
OVERNIGHT IN A MOTEL
Hopefully you checked Pettravel.com and booked a pet
friendly hotel or motel online. If the hotel/motel charges a pet
fee, pay it; don't try to hide your pet.
When you arrive, ask for a ground floor room near an area where you
can take a walk with your pet. The center courtyard is not the
right place. Be sure to pick up after your pet so that the
hotel/motel will remain pet friendly.
Most accommodations ask that you do not leave the pet alone in the
room for obvious reasons. You may have to order take out or room
service, or you may even find a pet friendly restaurant, look for
places with outdoor seating areas like sidewalk cafes.
YOU HAVE ARRIVED AT YOUR
DESTINATION
Show your pet around their new home, where you have placed their
food, water, and bed. Take them outside and let them get familiar
with their surroundings. Be sure and watch them closely until you
are sure they are comfortable.
Having your pet with you while on vacation can make the trip more
memorable for everyone. There is no reason to leave your best
friend at home if you do a little advance preparation.
Susan is the owner and president
of PetTravel.com, the
oldest and most comprehensive website on the internet for traveling
pet owners.
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Anna Sokoloff and Cosmo
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C.A.T. Volunteer and Board Member:
Anna Sokoloff
Advanced Certified C.A.T. Dog:
Cosmo
aka - CH.
Sunshine Best of Both Worlds C.G.C.
C.A.T. Member Since:
October 17, 2009
C.A.T.:
Please tell us something memorable about a time that you
volunteered for C.A.T.
Anna:
"I have numerous memorable
moments volunteering for C.A.T. There are so many facets of
volunteering; visiting facilities, fund raising, education,
temperament testing of new recruits, and promotional awareness to
name a few. Having been a member of C.A.T. for almost one year,
there have been many first time experiences.
The children will always touch my
heart, but this year I had one member of the staff in the facility
I visit be very fearful of dogs. She avoided Cosmo and spoke to us
from afar. Her family wanted a pet very badly but was vetoed by
Mom. She was terrified! So after much convincing, this staff member
finally touched Cosmo, then practiced stroking him every visit,
(from the rear at first). The terror has been alleviated, and she
now has a beautiful Boxer puppy at home which she helps care for.
She always calls Cosmo into her office for some special
loving.
There are too many memorable
moments to relate when Cosmo and I have visited with the children
at the facility. Often when the visit is over and I am settling
Cosmo in the car, I realize the enormity of suffering these
children endure daily. Then, once in a while I allow myself to shed
a tear or two.
One first experience for us was
the sweet child in the wheelchair who has a smart and lively brain
but could not move anything but his hands, which were unnaturally
twisted. His eyes lit up brightly and he gave a huge grin on seeing
Cosmo. He immediately asked if he could walk Cosmo up and down the
corridor. I hesitated for a second as Cosmo had to perform this
task safely without being run over, as the smiling child waited I
placed Cosmo's leash in his hand. The case-worker and I were
beaming at the child's cries of delight as Cosmo proudly, yet
gingerly, trotted in front of the wheelchair. We have performed
this now with different children many times since, but I will never
forget that first time!
Sometimes the doctors will ask us
to sit next to a child as they are given injections. The child will
stroke Cosmo with his free hand and smile at him through their
tears of pain. Cosmo does a good job of distraction. He even sneaks
in a lick or two. I often have to tell him, "Keep your licker in
your mouth Cosmo", which amuses the child to a giggle.
It has been a year of
'firsts' for Cosmo also, and he has handled the unusual and
sometimes noisy equipment in the clinic with no problem. He will
sit with the children on the loud ventilators until they fall
asleep. The siblings of the children being treated also attend the
clinic with their families. Many times we all sit in a circle in
the corridor and as Cosmo is performing tricks and being petted, I
try to educate these children on how to love and care for a dog. I
have to be very mindful that some of the little children have no
knowledge of how to behave around animals and poor Cosmo sometimes
receives some heavy prods and pokes from the rougher children.
Cosmo has been amazing and has made me so very proud as he loves
all the attention the children shower on him and offers much love
in return."
C.A.T.: How has becoming a
C.A.T. Team changed you?
Anna: "Volunteering for me is rewarding but
also a humbling experience. It has reminded me how fortunate I am
to bring a smile to a child's lips or comfort to an adult who may
be having a stressful day. All this takes place just by being there
with my dog! I am very grateful to have met some wonderful and
genuine people in the C.A.T. Team world. My dog, Cosmo, is like
Velcro and loves to be close to me at all times. I had been looking
for some time to find a therapy group who are what I like to call
'Full Service'. C.A.T. evaluates dog teams, places them in an
already vetted facility, and accompanies the volunteer on first
visits. For a new volunteer it is a dream scenario. No other
therapy group in this area takes time to be so
involved.
Because of my working mainly out
of the county for so many years, I had not been able to be part of
the community life. C.A.T. allowed my dog and I the opportunity to
give back to the community together. I do not know that becoming a
C.A.T. Team has 'changed me' as much as it has enriched my life and
given Cosmo and I a new sense of purpose and a reason to be
positive and happy every day. When I volunteer for C.A.T., with or
without Cosmo, it is always a positive experience and I enjoy that
feeling. I feel lucky I found C.A.T.!"
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