Puptastic News 🐾

UPDATES AND HAPPENINGS

Summer Edition 2020

Canine Assisted Therapy Goes Virtual

Canine Assisted Therapy launched a new initiative to help aid the community in a unique way. TeleDog virtual visits are providing support to nursing homes, hospitals, struggling students, first responders, healthcare heroes, isolated seniors and many others in the community. This unique face-to-face way of communication encourages conversation and a feeling of connection by giving people something to smile about.

Businesses and facilities can request a therapy dog to make a cameo appearance during virtual meetings or schedule a video call to lift the spirits of someone in need.

This program was designed to help increase team morale, promote mental health, provide some fun stress relief and reach individuals who are unable to receive physical visits in nursing homes or hospitals.

Even if you can't physically touch a therapy animal right now, studies show that any positive interaction with an animal can decrease stress levels and lower blood pressure. For more information about our TeleDog program, visit teledogs.org or contact us at (954) 990-5175.

Spreading Kindness - One rock at a time

C.A.T. volunteers have joined artistic forces to create colorful reminders of how a little kindness goes a long way!

The purpose of the C.A.T. Kindness Rocks is to spread cheer and gratitude to healthcare workers and those in need by giving them to nursing homes, special needs facilities and hospitals. They might be hidden for residents to find as part of a scavenger hunt or taken home by a nurse to treasure. They may even be hidden around your neighborhood and parks!

Look-out for one of our Kindness Rocks. You never know where you might find one!

If you do, post a selfie with the rock and tag @CanineAssistedTherapy on facebook!

Virtual Volunteer Orientation

Online Volunteer Orientation - Canine Assisted Therapy, Inc.

Learn about Canine Assisted Therapy (C.A.T.) and how to become a certified volunteer team with your pet. This informational session will cover what makes a great therapy dog, the different volunteer levels and the steps required to get certified, ...

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catdogs.org

Community Partnerships

A BIG thank you to a very special partner!

What My Pet Means to Me Photo Challenge

Thank you to Citrix for supporting our mission and sponsoring the What My Pet Means to Me Photo Challenge for Mental Health Awareness month.

Animals are a great way to support our mental health. To help promote this, Canine Assisted Therapy partnered with Citrix for a fun initiative to encourage people to share photos and stories of the furry friends who have helped them through a difficult time while shedding light on the importance of mental health.

With submissions ranging from cats, dogs and even a fish, it wasn't easy to select a winner but after much deliberation a decision was made. The lucky winner received a $100 Amazon gift card and was featured on Canine Assisted Therapy's Facebook page.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS!

Meet Grace and her dog, Duncan

Mental Health Awareness Month with Citrix

May was Mental Health Awareness Month and with so many people feeling the effects of social distancing and changes in the workplace, Canine Assisted Therapy partnered with our friends at Citrix to provide their employees weekly virtual stress-relief sessions with some of our therapy dogs!

A Send Off to Remember - MSD Graduation

On June 6th, Canine Assisted Therapy dogs showed their support to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School graduating class of 2020. Volunteers safely gathered in Parkland, FL to send off the senior class with a waving paw and wagging tail!

Therapy dogs Jessie, Shelby & Emma

Pet therapy team, Mary and Fergie

Reaching the Community through Reading

Students completed the last part of the school year virtually. Because of this, Canine Assisted Therapy's Read-a-thon program, one of our most requested services, was temporarily put on hold. BUT that hasn't stopped our pet therapy teams from finding other ways to motivate struggling readers.

Studies have shown that children who are behind their peers in reading struggle with low self-esteem and feelings of inadequacy. Children have been able to tune in to Canine Assisted Therapy's Facebook page for a weekly story time session with one of our therapy dogs and are encouraged to practice their reading skills.

COVID-19 Media Coverage

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MESSAGES OF GRATITUDE - Canine Assisted Therapy dogs sent a special thank you to the healthcare heroes, first responders and many others who work selflessly to keep our community safe. NBC 6 Miami recently featured their tribute on the evening news!

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PROVIDING VIRTUAL PET THERAPY - Canine Assisted Therapy was honored to be featured on Local Now, a streaming app powered by The Weather Channel. The fun clip is a great way to learn a little bit about what we do. Check it out!

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There is nothing like a big smooch, gentle touch or a wet nose nuzzle with a happy dog. But social distancing rules, due to the impact of COVID-19, has created a barrier between those in need of canine therapy visits and those special pups that...