Furry Friends at Cascades Academy Provide a Boost of Happiness for Students

Ole visiting with Cascades Academy students
Cascades Academy Director of Counseling, Leah Rapaport, attended the Trauma Informed School Conference in Denver last month, where a team of volunteer emotional support dogs were available to connect with. Leah has been excited about the opportunity to bring emotional support to CACO. That's where Hobie comes in. Hobie the comfort dog visited Cascades Academy for the first time on November 21st and again on December 3rd.

There are many benefits to interaction with emotional support dogs including the release of oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine into the brain, which are all responsible for "happiness". Should a student ever experience an emotional emergency, Hobie lives just 2 miles down the road and is happy to pay a visit. Hobie works with Partners in Care and Compassionate Canines of Central Oregon.

We will be meeting another partner dog at the end of the week. He is a golden retriever named Ole. Our hope is that Ole will become a regular monthly visitor...an appointment we can all look forward to in our schedules!

Hobie the Comfort Dog

Pause-4-Paws at OSU Cascades

OSU Cascades students chilling out with canine companions during finals week.

Compassionate Canines teams participated in See You at The Summit event

Teens approaching Moraine Lake in Sisters Wilderness                                                  Deb with Ole

It has long been known that wilderness experiences and outdoor and adventure-based education support emotional, behavioral and intellectual development in children and teens. Students who learn outdoors develop a sense of self, independence, confidence, creativity, decision-making and problem-solving skills, and empathy towards others, motor skills, self-discipline and initiative. Add to this the documented research that is growing in support of Animal Assisted Therapy especially for children with medical challenges, like cancer, and one can see how therapy teams in Central Oregon fit perfectly into a nine day adventure in the Sisters Wilderness called “See You At The Summit”.

Ole and I are one of three therapy dog teams participating in See You At The Summit. Quite a wonderful adventure for these teens from Washington and Oregon. I felt Paul Petzoldt affirming the life changing experiences for these remarkable young people. Several more days ahead with the goal of a summit.

The experience was serendipitous for Compassionate Canines: a cancellation from established Portland-based teams left the program in need of therapy dogs and handlers. Jennifer Horseman, our local volunteer coordinator for Compassionate Canines of Central 
Oregon, was able to respond. Despite the short notice, Jennifer put out the word for volunteers and Dani Stewart, Ann Pinske and me, along with our dogs, Indy, Tola and Ole respectively, participated. This opportunity wove nicely with our own personal interests to hike in the Cascades. The outdoor setting definitely supported the premise that it is important for the handlers to identify the environment that feels best for them. (See the article “Could Handlers Potentially Impact the Success of Therapy Dog Sessions?”).

We were present for the first day’s meeting when the teens and staff of the program arrived at Mt. Bachelor. The dogs were an important part of the process during introductions and expectations outlining the nine days ahead. Since the teens had just met that day, the dogs were a positive distraction during awkward moments of this first time meet-up at base camp. We alternated hiking with the group on subsequent days and joined in various activities when the teens were settled into camp for the night. Although none of us backpacked and camped out, the route to Broken Top was such that we were able to meet up on the trail most days as needed.

Leadership and organization were essential to make this first-time challenge a success. Spurred by a dedicated focus and dream of over a decade, See You at the Summit was born from the vision of founder, Heather Rose. I encourage you to visit seeyouatthesummit.org to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for her endeavor to take teens dealing with cancer into the wilderness.

Deb Wilkinson with Ole

I really appreciated my Summit experience because it showed me how valuable therapy dogs are as an ice breaker when teens are getting to know each other and opening up (ie being vulnerable). It was a great experience!

Dani Stewart with Indy

As for my experience with the Summit teens, it was very memorable, and I felt fortunate to have been a part of the group.

Ann Pinske with Tola

Area 97 Magazine Article: The Heart of a Dog

Three stories of heartwarming canine companions who help, comfort and inspire. Featuring therapy dog Conguita with Jennifer Horsman. Click here to read the article.

COCC Pet-A-Pup

Date: Wednesday, Dec. 4th
Times: Noon - 1:00 pm, 1:00 - 2:00 pm, 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Location: Central Oregon Community College, Barber Library

COCC has again asked Compassionate Canines of Central Oregon to provide Therapy Dogs as part of their stress relief week during the time students are getting ready for finals. It’s a fun event. We will be located on the first floor of Barber Library to the left after entering the library. We usually just sit around and the students and faculty/staff wander in for a break to pet the dogs and visit.

Please arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled start time so that the dogs can see each other outside of the library before going into the room and getting settled.

This is a great event about spending time with the students. For anyone who may be new to this, it's not a time for dogs to socialize with each other. It’s a fairly small room and can get crowded, so the max is 4 teams during each hour. Please find a spot and keep your dog in that area, hang onto the leash and be aware of the other dog’s space, and have a good time with the students. They love having the dogs visit.

Please let me know as soon as you can which shift you are interested in and I’ll do my best to schedule it. Thanks for volunteering,

Anita Read
anitaread99@gmail.com

OSU-Cascades Pause-4-Paws

Date: Tuesday, Dec. 3rd
Times: Noon to 1:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Location: Tykeson Hall, 1500 SW Chandler Ave., Bend

Our therapy dog teams have been invited by the OSU-Cascades The Office of Student Life to participate in an event to relieve stress. The purpose of this event is to bring students and local therapy dog teams together during "dead week" with the goal of relieving some of the student's stress by petting, hugging, and taking photos of themselves with the tail wagging "Don't Stress the Test" dogs.

The event will be held in the lobby of Tykeson Hall from 12:00 to 2:00
There will be two shifts.
4 teams from 12:00 to 1:00
4 teams from 1:00 to 2:00

If you would like to volunteer, please email me with your preferred time slot.
If you have questions please contact me.

Jennifer Horsman
j3horse@gmail.com

Dogs 'prevent stressed students dropping out'

Stress among students really can be reduced by spending time with animals, according to research from the US. Click here to read the article.

Pause-4-Paws at OSU Cascades

Many students paused for Ole and Tola's paws at the OSU-Cascades Pause-4-Paws event before final exams.

Elk Meadow Elementary DOG TAILS Party

Therapy Dogs at Ashley Manor

Ashley Barker is majoring in Health Information Technology at Central Oregon Community College. Ashley is evaluating the health benefits of therapy dog visits with residents of Ashley Manor in Madras for her Community Service Learning Project. Participating therapy dog teams were Ann with Tola, Deb with Ole, Maria with SAM, and Jerrileee with Maddie.

Helping Paws

From therapy dogs to service animals, special pups help people in more ways than one. Hobie, a 150-pound brindle English Mastiff, lumbers slowly down the hallway of Aspen Ridge Memory Care as Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" drifts from an entertainment room filled with a dozen or so elderly residents suffering from Alzheimer's disease, dementia or other memory loss.

Read the article in Central Oregon Pets published by Source Weekly.

Aspen Ridge Memory Care Christmas Visit

Every Dec. 25th therapy dog teams visit the residents at Aspen Ridge Memory Care.

Therapy dogs at OSU Cascades "Pause-4-Paws" event

OSU student petting Nikki and Gunner, rescues from Three River Humane Society in Madras. Doug Poletti and Cathy Poletti are the dog's humans aka Handlers.

MRSA in Therapy Dogs: Preventing Transmission in Hospitals

Despite recent alarming headlines, experts cite simple precautions that therapy dog handlers can take to protect dogs and patients. Click here to read the article published in Whole Dog Journal.
 

St. Charles Hospital therapy dogs at Bend Pet Express

St. Charles Hospital therapy dogs meet and greet customers at Bend Pet Express. Photos of Opal with handler Marcy, Daisy with handler June, and Elliot with handler Jim. Also participating were Ruby with handler Susan and Sarge with handler Jennifer.

Dog walk tips from the Deschutes Land Trust

Spring is in the air! As you get ready to head out to your favorite Land Trust Preserve for an early spring hike with your furry friend, we offer this reminder about the importance of keeping dogs on leash and keeping wildlife safe.

Dog walk tips

Camp Sunrise Weekend

Hospice of Redmond would like to thank two therapy dog teams for volunteering at Camp Sunrise, our annual weekend grief camp for children. Jennifer Horsman & Hobie, and Al & Susan LaChance & Ruby are members of Compassionate Canines of Central Oregon. These two teams had such a positive impact on the lives of children in our community who are grieving the death of someone very special to them. The handlers and dogs together created a caring space for the children to land. Children often attend camp alone, not knowing any of the other children, so at first, they gravitate toward the dogs where they feel safe and accepted. Both teams did an amazing job of supporting, comforting and encouraging the children to engage in the process. Thank you!

Diane Kellstrom
Bereavement Coordinator, Camp Sunrise Director

Boys & Girls Club Therapy Dog Reading Day

A wonderful time had by all at the Boys & Girls Club East Bend during Therapy Dog Reading Day!  Griffyn and his human, Jennifer Boley, are certified through TDI and mainly do hospice therapy work in Sisters, OR.  Griffyn also loves being around kids, especially when they read to him.  Christina Chavez, a volunteer at the B&G Club, has previous therapy work experience through the San Fransisco SPCA, and was excited to start a local program.  We hope to make this a monthly event and Griffyn certainly looks forward to it!

Dog Readers at Elk Meadow Elementary

Every 6 weeks our grade level meets to discuss students and progress. Numerous second grade kiddos were brought up as making crazy gains in reading. We analyzed the data and the instruction, and then it was mentioned that many of these kids, with positive gains, had dog readers. For the first time, the instructional practice AND the use of dogs was credited for gains. NEVER in the history of the program has the reading data now included dog readers AND the direct correlation to positive impacts on reading scores. Holy cow!!!

THANK YOU ALL for giving us your time and for making our kids soar!

Heather Korman
2nd grade
Elk Meadow Elementary
Art Focus School

John Tuck Elementary After School Extended Learning Program

Beth, would you and Canoe be interested in helping out at an after school extended learning program at John Tuck Elementary? I know the kids would just fall in love with Canoe…” As she spoke, the excuses I was formulating in my mind quickly evaporated and I found myself agreeing to visit the program before making a decision. And I am so glad I did.

Canoe, Jennifer Horsman, and I met with Dodie Carmichael at John Tuck Elementary to discuss the goals of the program, Canoe’s and my role, to meet the kids, and tour the site in order to see if our involvement would be a good fit. As a retired Children’s librarian I was pleased to learn that Canoe would be helping 25 1st and 2nd graders gain confidence in their reading skills by listening to them read aloud. And, as part of a therapy dog team, I was pleased to see that Canoe’s safety and comfort was a priority to all. Best of all, this was a short, seven week commitment and Dodie was graciously willing to work within our busy schedule. The final obstacle fell when Canoe met the kids. They were well behaved and enthusiastic when meeting Canoe, and Canoe strutted about like a king, his ears up and tail wagging, as he greeted each child.

The program is over now, and Jennifer was right, the kids did fall in love with Canoe. And Canoe fell in love with each of them in return.

Beth Jones

St. Charles Hospital ER Staff Visit

"Shane" and "Annie" giving the ER staff at St. Charles some Christmas joy on December 24, 2016.

COCC Pet-A-Pup Stress Relief Day

On December 6, 2016, thirteen pet therapy teams helped COCC students relieve stress preparing for final exams.

Bend Nest Article: Pet Therapy for Children

Therapy Dog Awareness Day

Compassionate Canines therapy dog teams at Bend Pet Express

Bend Pet Express 10% Discount

If you are currently volunteering as a registered therapy team with your dog or cat, you qualify for a 10% discount at Bend Pet Express. Bend Pet Express -- Eastside and Westside locations -- will give you a
10% discount for all in store purchases and special orders. This discount is in recognition of what Therapy Dog and Cat Teams are doing as volunteers in the community. Must present proof of current therapy registration when purchasing to receive your discount.

RUFFWEAR Discount up to 50%

RUFFWEAR offers therapy dog teams up to a 50% discount. To sign up for the pro purchase program please go online to: ruffwear.com/pro
Click on the Pro Purchase Program application.
Completing parts of the the application.
Group's name: Compassionate Canines of Central Oregon
Classification: Service Dogs.
Our therapy dogs are listed under this classification with RUFFWEAR knowing our dogs are NOT Service Dogs. Please note that this discount ONLY applies to online orders and this privilege is not to be misused by obtaining/sharing discounts with family and friends.