SEQUIM — The dogs are doing it again: Bringing people together, making them feel all right.
That’s the canine capability and the reason a dozen dogs recently became certified therapists.
Olympic Gentle Paws, the North Olympic Peninsula chapter of Therapy Dogs International, tests and certifies any breed or cross, and then lets the dogs do what they do best: visit, wag and spend mellow time with seniors in nursing homes and children in classrooms.
For last Wednesday’s Gentle Paws open house at the Greywolf Veterinary Hospital, a flock of canines — from Daisy the toy pomeranian to Ranger the bearlike German shepherd — took the therapy-dog tests of “accepting a friendly stranger,” “sitting politely for petting” and “walking through a crowd,” along with the common “come” and “sit” commands.
The 12 newly certified dogs will join about 25 other Olympic Gentle Paws canine-human teams that visit Greywolf, Fairview and Hamilton elementary schools and the Port Angeles Library for reading sessions with children.
“The kids are in groups, and there’s one dog per group,” said Jim Thomson of Port Angeles, whose standard poodle, Wizard, has curled up with third- and fourth-graders at Hamilton.
At first Thomson thought the reading-to-dogs routine was “the silliest thing in the world.”
Then he saw how both parties got into it.
“The kids are motivated to read. The dogs make no corrections. They simply listen.
“The dogs love the attention and the kids love not doing this with an adult. It’s a treat for everybody.”
Linda Keck of Port Angeles only this year joined Olympic Gentle Paws, and averages two forays per week with her Jack Russell terrier, Boo.
“It’s just neat sharing him with people who don’t have access to pets. And it gives the dog something to do besides get in trouble,” she said.
“The dogs just know it’s time to be good. They lie down, belly up.
“The younger dogs watch what the older dogs do,” Keck added.
During these visits, everyone settles in to relax and enjoy one another.
Children get to practice reading, free of concern over correction or ridicule for any mistakes. And seniors reminisce about pets they once had.
Therapy Dogs International’s slogan says it: “Paws awhile for love.”
TO LEARN MORE about Olympic Gentle Paws, phone director Chris Cornell at 360-681-4440 or e-mail cornellc@olypen.com.
Therapy Dogs International’s Web site, www.tdi-dog.org, offers more information.
