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Local dogs earn therapy certification, now ready to attend to community’s needs

Sentinel photo by BUFFIE BOYER
Four area dogs have earned their Therapy Dog International certification and are ready to visit with the community. Dog owners Bev Stimely, left, and Margie Aurand, are pictured with dogs, from left, Lily, Ralph, Abby and Ellie.

LEWISTOWN –With the wag of a tail, the touch of a paw or the feel of soft fur, animals can lift moods, relieve stress and provide other physical and mental health benefits.

Trained therapy animals, which provide comfort and affection in a variety of circumstances, are a way for people in lonely, stressful or traumatic situations to share in these health benefits.

Recently four local dogs in the Mifflin County Dog Training Club have earned their Therapy Dog International certification and their owners are ready to share the dogs with the community.

Bev Stimely, of Lewistown, and her goldendoodle Lily; Margie Aurand, of Lewistown, and her goldendoodle Ellie; and Maureen Romej, of Lewistown, and her corgis Abby and Ralph; are ready to be called upon to respond to a facility where emotional support is needed.

Stimely said therapy dogs can be used in nursing homes, hospitals, schools, funerals, hospice care, prisons, and even courthouses.

Sentinel photos by BUFFIE BOYER
Lily, owned by Bev Stimely of Lewistown, shows her therapy dog tag she wears when she visits people. She also wears a red bandanna stating she is a certified therapy dog.

“Studies show they can lower blood pressure, decrease anxiety, rehabilitate, alleviate depression, reduce the need for drug therapy and reduce aggression in adult substance abuse cases,” Stimely said. “Some schools have a reading program that allows children with literacy problems to read to a therapy dog. And just as important, therapy dogs have been proven to be vital in disaster relief, such as the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.”

Stimely and Aurand have already been taking Lily and Ellie to visit patients and staff at Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital, who requires the TDI certification.

“I take Ellie one day a week to the hospital and we go into most floors and waiting areas,” Aurand said. “She made her rounds (in a waiting area) and what a difference it made in that room. There was an autistic boy there and he really enjoyed her.”

Both women said the staff enjoy the dogs just as much.

“They need it as much as the patients do,”Aurand said. “The staff at the hospital thank us for bringing the dogs in. That’s humbling. Ellie enjoys people. It’s a win-win.”

Before a dog can be even considered for therapy certification, Stimely said many tests have to be completed.

First the dog, must be a year old and have a calm, laid-back, not easily frightened personality. Stimely said the first test is two-hour long temperament test to see how the dog reacts in a crowd of people, handing them food they are not allowed to take, having other dogs present but ignoring their presence, and not acting in an aggressive manner in anything. They must also be comfortable around wheelchairs, walkers and loud noises.

“They have to be focused on you, not distracted,” Stimely said. “You have to have a lot of control over your dog.”

During the test, the TDI officials watch the handlers as well to see how they handle the dogs and give commands. Stimely said being part of the Mifflin County Dog Training Club really provides most of the obedience training needed for the test.

Dog owners can take the TDI certification even farther by becoming eligible to handle disaster relief.

Other requirements for the dogs are to have all annual inoculations up-to-date and then some additional inoculations as well.

“TDI is very regimented in that when testing (inoculations) comes due, they will email you and if you don’t update by the due date, you can’t take them out to visits,” Aurand said.

Pam Bilger, a dog trainer and member of the club, pointed out that therapy pets are different from service animals. Therapy dogs do not have the same privileges as service dogs and cannot, for example, enter restaurants or grocery stores. Service dogs are trained to do work or perform tasks to help individuals with a disability.

All the dog owners related stories of certain visits with their dogs and how people responded to them. Stimely recalled a visit to a local nursing home where she took Lily to a woman who was almost in a catatonic state.

“Lily put her head on the bed and the lady put her hand over and immediately smiled and babbled,” she said. “We stayed quite awhile.”

To bring even more joy, some of the dogs like to do tricks or the owners dress the dogs up in costumes.

Not only do the therapy dogs help others, but they also bring joy to their owners.

“I always enjoyed dogs,” Aurand said. “Four walls can close in fast and they can take your mind off the situation.”

Bilger said it’s fulfilling to share the dogs and taking them into nursing homes sometimes helps bring happy memories back to the residents.

For Stimely, she said she likes to incorporate her Christianity into the visits, if the person is receptive to that, and has Lily fold her paws to look like she is praying.

“She’ll do anything for a treat or cheese,” Stimely said.

The club meets at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month at the Mifflin County Sportsman’s Club, weather depending. In case of inclement weather, visit www.mifflincountydogs.org or the Facebook page for details.

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