Massachusetts Pet Partners - Pet Partners In the News

Pet Partners In the News

LOCAL PET PARTNER RECEIVES 2006 BEYOND LIMITS AWARD

Award notification from Larry Norvell, President/CEO Delta Society. Dated October 16, 2006.

Congratulations to Pat Howes and Lucy as Honorable Mentons for the 2006 Beyond Limits Therapy Animals Animals Award. The recognition is well deserved. Pat and Lucy's commitment and dedication to animal-assisted activities and therapy have strengthened the success of the Pet Partners Program.

A DOG EARED AUDIENCE - Easton children find it easy to read to dogs

This article, by Greg D'Andrea, appeared in The Enterprise; Greater Brockton Edition on Friday, August 1, 2003. Photos by J. Kiely Jr./The Enterprise.

The Ames Free Library openly violated its own no pets policy Wednesday night as two very special dogs were allowed in to sit with children while they read.

Dog trainer Pam Bashian said the main goal of the program, called Paws for Reading, was to make the children feel more comfortable with reading. 'Kids can be intimidated by teachers or parents and sometimes lack the confidence to read because of that fear, so it is a lot easier for them to relate to the dogs and that makes them feel more comfortable with reading,' said Bashian. 'The whole idea is to turn something they fear into something that is fun.'

Fifteen children took turns reading to one of two dogs. The dogs were a golden retriever named Luke and a greyhound named Ringo. Both dogs have been specially trained by the Delta Society to be therapy dogs. The Delta Society is a national organization that encourages interaction between humans and animals through programs such as Paws for Reading.

Six-year-old Nicholas Barber of Easton was one of the children who read to Ringo, and he thought it was fun because of the dog. 'I liked reading to the dog and petting the dog,' said Nicholas, who was accompanied by his mother, Laura Barber. 'I have never read to a dog before.' Laura Barber thought it was a good way for her children to have fun with reading. 'I was excited about it from the time I first read about it,' said Barber. 'This is a great motivator for the kids because most kids love animals.'

Library technician Whitney Anderson, who was filling in for children's librarian Karen Gabbert Armand, credited her with the success of all the summer programs. 'Karen has done a really good job. Every year the summer reading keeps getting better and better,' said Anderson. 'This is great because the kids are comfortable and feel that the dogs are listening to them. It has really worked out well.'

The program was cosponsored by the Delta Society and Gabbert Armand.

HOMETOWN - North Andover

This article, by Gale Batsimm, appeared in Town Crossings; An Eagle-Tribune Company on Thursday, June 20, 2002. Photo by, and courtesy of, Carol Van Doren/Town Crossings.

Pets help ward off loneliness and depression. They lend a listening ear and offer comfort. Research studies indicate that blood pressure lowers and finger temperature increases - both signs of relaxation - after 10 minutes of interaction with a pet. Increasingly, local nursing homes, retirement communities and assisted living facilities are welcoming special animals as visitors and residents.

At Sutton Hill Center, Brice is the resident greyhound. Frolick, a golden retriever, and his handler visit Prescott House. Heritage at North Andover has a special affinity for furry friends. Max, a greyhound, call the place home. Skyler, a Weimaraner, and Charity, a white cat, are frequent visitors. On weekends a staff nurse roams the community rooms with her black teacup poodle, Midnight, riding in a special carrying pack upon his owner's chest. One floor in the Homestead Program at Heritage features two cages of finches and an aquarium. And then there's Ringo, a tall and gentle greyhound who sports a green vest laden with recognition pins.

"Residents who normally are introverted, non-joiners are thrilled to have the pet visits," says Dina Lynch, marketing director at Heritage. "You can just see their faces bloom with sunshine. They want to pet them, touch them. They talk with them when normally they are very quiet people. It's as beneficial as a visit with family sometimes."

Ringo and his human friend, Christiana Melton, visit the facility on a volunteer basis every Sunday morning as registered Pet Partners with the Delta Society. Ringo, who will turn nine in September, is somewhat senior himself, and has a special affinity for the elderly, who often relate to his slower movements and mellow disposition. His height also makes him ideal for petting by residents in wheelchairs or walkers.

The pair makes special visits to four residents, the oldest of whom is 104. "Ringo knows how to do certain things," says Melton, who encourages the canine to "sing" with a hand command. "He has the skills necessary to facilitate engagements."

While other dogs, like Max, mull around for companionship in the common areas, Ringo has been specially trained to work individually. Ringo completed a basic dog obedience course, becoming a "canine good citizen." Melton then took a training course offered by the Delta Society, which taught her such things as wheelchair etiquette, how to be a good listener, and recognizing when her pet is stressed. After Melton passed a written test, she and Ringo took a 40-minute test as a team, where they were put through mock scenarios. Ringo experienced clumsy petting, loud, angry yelling and other unpleasant situations, which cause some animals to become frightened and defensive. Ringo earned a "predictable" rating, allowing him to work in hospitals, schools and nursing homes. A "complex" grade permits the Pet Partners to work in more stressful situations as well, such as psychiatric wards. The team became certified Pet Partners October 2001.

The Delta Society, which was founded in Oregon in 1977, aims to improve "human health through service and therapy animals." Pet Partners undergo recertification every two years. They divide their programs into Animal Assisted Activities (AAA) and Animal Assisted Therapies (AAT). Melton and Ringo fall into the former category. Ringo would require additional training to become a Therapy Dog through the Delta Society, although Melton notes that some other organizations use that terminology with less training then Ringo has had.

"I always wanted to volunteer, but I didn't have a great avenue to do that," says Melton. Ringo has provided the opportunity, but it is Melton's drive that has the pair looking ahead. In between settling into her newly finished North Andover home and completing her master's degree in Engineering Management at the Gordon Institute of Tufts University, she hopes to start a local group that will encourage more volunteers to become Pet Partners.

The Delta Society has 6500 volunteers spread though out every state and other parts of the world, including Japan, Italy, Canada, Israel and Australia. Melton is developing a web site, a brochure, and is planning speaking engagements to drum up interest and support. "Being the only one out here, it was very difficult to get my foot in the door," she says.

She also hopes to begin working with schools this fall on a literacy program that was highlighted by the Utah chapter at last month's Delta Society conference. She and her husband, Rex, would like to adopt a younger dog as a companion for Ringo.

Melton, a project manager for Instrumentation Laboratory in Lexington, became interested in volunteering with senior citizens after her grandmother passed away five years ago. "Elders have a lot to contribute to society and I don't think a lot of people realize that," she says.

Between earning their certification in October and beginning their work at Heritage in February, the two had volunteered with Caring Canines, a Boston-based group. They would accompany a few other well-behaved pets and handlers on group visits to nursing homes and their facilities. "The group visits were fun, but being one-on-one is what Pet Partners is all about," she says.

Taking two hours out of her day to slow down and enjoy a leisurely visit with residents at the assisted living facility provides some balance to the hectic pace of life in New England.

"If everyone just gave a little bit the world would be a much better place," she says. "It gives me immense satisfaction to know that "Ringo and I are the Sunday highlight for these people. Personally, it's very enriching. Just to know that they look forward to seeing you every week and to get to hear their stories and meet their families is very interesting. I'd like to think that we add something to their day."

For more information about the Delta Society, visit www.deltasociety.org. To contact Melton, e-mail her at .

Gale Batsimm is a North Andover resident and a freelance writer. You can share information about your North Andover community by calling Town Crossing at (978) 475-7000 or e-mailing Gale at .