FREE—Take One
Volume 7, Issue 3
March 2017
WOULD YOUR PET MAKE A GOOD THERAPY ANIMAL?
by Patti Anderson, C.P.D.T., Paws Abilities Therapy Dog Trainer
Did you know that there are nine species that can be registered
as therapy animals? They include dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea
pigs, rats, certain birds, miniature horses, alpacas/llamas,
and potbellied pigs.
What is a therapy animal exactly? There are many terms
used today that can be confusing when differentiating between the jobs
animals do. Listed below are some simple definitions of the official
terms used.
Therapy Animal - A therapy animal is a well-trained pet (one of the
nine species listed above) that has passed an in-person standardized test
with their handler to qualify for insurance (up to 2 million dollars per
incident) with one of the three national groups listed below:
Pet Partners (will register nine different species)
Therapy Dogs International (registers only dogs)
Alliance of Therapy Dogs (registers only dogs)
Therapy animals are volunteers that visit in the community at a variety
of venues such as hospitals, nursing homes, libraries, and schools. A
team, which consists of a handler and an animal, must be invited to visit
at a facility and does not have any special rights to access.
Service Animal - According to the ADA (Americans with Disabilities
Act), service animals are defined as dogs (and in some cases, miniature
horses) that are “individually trained to do work or perform tasks for
people with disabilities." In accordance with the ADA, service animals
may accompany a person with a disability almost anywhere the general
public may go. They may also be called Assistance Dogs.
Emotional Support Animal - An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is a
pet that provides therapeutic support to someone with a mental health
diagnosis. These animals may or may not have any training and can be
a variety of species. ESAs do not have special rights to access, but they
do have some legal rights under the Air Carrier Access Act and the Fair
Housing Act. The pet must be prescribed in a letter by the mental health
professional who is providing services.
Continued on Page 4
Pets for Adoption
Three Little Pigs! Opal, Amber, and Flower are
looking for a home that will keep the big bad wolf
from blowing down their door. They were a bit
nervous at first but are getting friendlier every day
and love to be petted. They also LOVE their veggies.
Guinea pigs make great pets - they are small, docile, make cute noises,
and have a lot of personality.
Cassie is a 2 year old female tabby. She is a super
sweet kitty who loves attention. She is OK with other
cats and dogs, but may take a while to warm up to
them. She enjoys brushing and petting and looking at
the world from high places. Cassie is microchipped.
Blossom was found as a stray. She is approximately one
year old, very sweet and easy going. She likes attention
but is not demanding. She likes other cats, but has not
been around dogs much. She is a great all-around cat.
Pippy is a 2 year old female tortoiseshell that was
found as a stray. She is very sweet and friendly
and likes to be petted. Likes other cats but has not
been around dogs.
Aruba (Ruby) 1 year old female. Ruby was found
as a young kitten with a crushed pelvis. She was
treated with confinement and pain medication and
is comfortable now but her back legs don’t work
normally, although she can stand, walk, and even
jump. Shhh! Don’t tell Ruby she is handicapped.
She can get around almost as well as any cat. She is
SUPER affectionate and LOVES to be petted.
Ruby gets along with dogs and other cats.
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Pets for Adoption
Delta, Epsilon, and Zeta—sisters that were rescued together with their
mom. All are a bit shy at first, but will warm up once they get to know
you. They don’t like to be held, but all like to be petted. Pictured left to
right: Delta, Epsilon, and Zeta.
Melody, 1 1/2 year old female is a really nice cat
who does not like dogs. She can be around other
cats but really likes to be alone. She likes tummy
rubs, petting, and to be held occasionally.
Dannie is a 1-2 year old spayed female, possibly
Border Collie mix. She is friendly, affectionate, and
likes lots of attention. She is OK with other pets but
would be just as happy alone. Dannie will not be
happy unless she gets plenty of mental and physical
stimulation. No children under 6 please!
Idgie is a spayed, 11 month old Hound mix that is the happiest dog you
will ever meet. She loves dogs, cats and children. Idgie is housebroken
and crate trained.
She is a special needs dog that has a condition
called Neosporosis* that affects the muscles in her
hind legs, giving her a peculiar stance and gait.
Idgie can run and play like a regular dog, however
she can't go for walks or climb a lot of stairs.
Idgie likes to go for car rides, but she has to be
helped into the seat. This girl needs adopters that
will be willing to take on her special needs and be
aware of her limitations.
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Continued from Page 1
Comfort Dogs – These are dogs and handlers that have special training
to work in emergency situations. The dogs provide a calming presence
during or after a crisis. Some examples might be natural disasters,
school shootings, etc.
Therapy animals are in high demand in your community and across the
country! The research has now caught up with what pet lovers have
always known: animals have a healing influence in our lives. There
is supporting evidence that animals may relieve depression, combat
loneliness, reduce heart disease, increase the "feel good" hormones,
and more!
Therapy animal handlers can tell many compelling stories of the
powerful effect of their work: people in memory care that talk to the
therapy animal after months of silence, a child in the hospital that
doesn't appear to feel pain while the animal is visiting, autistic children
who speak for the first time after petting a therapy animal.
http://aercmn.com/blog/posts/the-quotright-stuffquot-would-your-petmake-a-good-therapy-animal-part-i/
Would you like to make a difference in someone’s life and
become part of a dog therapy team?
Patty Allen of Pawsitive Attitudes, is a Certified Evaluator
of Therapy Dogs International and can help you towards
that goal.
Please contact Patty to find out more about Therapy Dog
Training.
Pawsitive Attitudes
15207 Carrollton Blvd
Carrollton, VA 23314-2303
757-646-1037
[email protected]
http://pawsitiveattitudes.thedogtrainer.org/
Horse & Hound is now open in its new location:
1433 Big Bethel Road, Hampton
(757)238-9681
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Peta SNIP Van Schedule, March 2017 (partial listing)
3/9
3/15
3/17
3/20
3/20
3/23
3/23
3/30
IOW County Animal Shelter 13044 Poor House Rd
Surry, Bacon’s Castle Baptist Church, 86 Bacons Castle Trail
IOW County Animal Shelter 10344 Poor House Rd
Tractor Supply, 3000 Pruden Blvd
Island Tan, 188 Stewart Dr
IOW County Animal Shelter 13044 Poor House Rd
Smithfield, Tractor Supply, 13500 Benns Church Blvd
Suffolk, Tractor Supply, 3000 Pruden Blvd
Peta’s mobile clinics service the entire Hampton Roads area.
For more information, a complete list of services and prices, complete
monthly schedule, and to download admission forms, please visit PETA’s
website:
http://www.peta.org/about-peta/learn-about-peta/helping-animals-inhampton-roads/snip/
VACCINATIONS
$15 each for altered animals or
animals under 6 months
SPAY/NEUTER
Dog: $100 (spay)
$80 (neuter)
Cat:
$45
Please note: Dogs and cats 6 months
of age or older that have not been
Animals older than 6 years 11
spayed or neutered will not be
months or weighing more than
vaccinated on the SNIP van.
70 lbs. will not be spayed/
neutered on the SNIP van
Appointments not necessary for
vaccinations.
Hours for vaccinations:
10-11 AM
Appointments required
for all spays/neuters. To
make an appointment, call
622-7382, option 3
Vaccine hour may be cancelled when
temperature is above 87 or below 40
degrees.
CASH or CREDIT
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In memory of Mrs. Margaret Barr, longtime supporter and benefactor of IOW
County Humane Society, we present our 1st Annual “Fix a Feline” Free Spay
and Neuter promotion. Spring and summer are kitten season. We hope to “fix”
as many cats as possible from now through March, in order to reduce the
number of litters born this Spring. Contact us soon.
ADOPTION STATISTICS, 2016
Thanks to everyone who adopted and to our hard-working volunteers
who made it all possible. Here are the numbers— Drum roll, please:
233 dogs
201 cats
4 guinea pigs
3 rabbits
441 TOTAL
Isle of Wight Humane Society is a home based foster organization. We do
not have a physical shelter. Our foster volunteers take adoptable animals
to Petco in North Suffolk (Harborview area) every Sunday from 12-4 for
viewing and adoptions and occasionally to Petsmart on Jefferson Ave in
Newport News. Additionally, you can often find us at local places of
business in the Smithfield/Carrollton area for adoption and fundraising
events. Please visit and like our facebook page for current information.
Sunday 12-4
See our adoptable animals
1011 University Blvd
Suffolk
between Michael’s and Krogers
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In the Book of Life, the answers aren’t in the back.
~Charles M. Schulz
All his life he tried to be a good person.
Many times, however, he failed.
For after all, he was only human.
He wasn’t a dog.
~Charles M. Schulz
THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU
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The Humane Society holds meetings twice a month, on
second Mondays and fourth Wednesdays. Please come to
a meeting and learn more about us.
Mon
Mar 13
6:30PM
Carrollton Public Library
Wed
Mar 22
7:00PM
IOW Rescue Squad, 13080 Great Springs
Road, Smithfield
Mon
Apr 10
6:30PM
Carrollton Public Library
Wed
Apr 26
7:00PM
IOW Rescue Squad, 13080 Great Springs
Road, Smithfield
The Isle of Wight County Humane Society is an all volunteer
501.c.3 non-profit organization that receives no government funding.
We depend on corporate and private donations to fund our work. We
have no office, no building and no salaried employees. If you would
like to make a donation, please send your tax deductible contribution to
the address below. Or, donate on our website using the PayPal Donate
button. You do not have to be a member of PayPal to make a donation.
Please note, the IOW County Humane Society and IOW County Animal
Control are two different entities. If you are trying to reach the shelter,
at 13100 Poor House Rd,, please call: (757) 365-6318
Isle of Wight County Humane Society
PO Box 273
Smithfield, VA 23431
PH: (757)357-4214
www.iowchs.org
Email: [email protected]
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