Volunteering with your dog is one of the most rewarding ways to give back. You know how much your dog gives you — share their gift with those around you. There has never been more need!
INFORMATION SESSION
Thursday May 9th
Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan – 76th and Amsterdam Ave.
6:00-7:00PM
Light refreshments will be served
(REGISTER)
Therapy dogs come in all different breeds and sizes. If your dog is highly social with people, good in new situations, and knows basic obedience, you may have a therapy dog.
There are more and more opportunities for therapy dogs, from traditional hospital and nursing facilities to schools, libraries, and college campuses.
Join us to learn:
- How to know if your dog may be a good fit (hint: it’s not about obedience)
- How to get registered as a therapy dog team
- Where to train
- Places to volunteer and types of programs available.
There is no fee to attend, but please REGISTER
Questions: volunteer@afairshakeforyouth.org
PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A HUMANS-ONLY EVENT
This event is sponsored by the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, A Fair Shake for Youth, which offers structured, hands-on programs with therapy dogs to help youth in underserved communities build greater empathy and self-esteem, and Jane Kopelman of All About Dogs, who serves as a consultant to Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Caring Canine Program.
I know this is sponsored content, but it’s a great idea. I trained with my last dog to be a therapy dog team and it was rewarding for both of us. He loved getting to visit people and you could tell that he knew he was giving them something they needed. I really wish I’d started with him sooner. If your dog is mild-mannered, playful, and empathetic, you should give it some serious thought.
My dog Buster and I have been volunteering for A Fair Shake for Youth for the past seven years. It’s hard to say who loves it more, me or my dog! There’s no question the participating students love it the most, which is what makes volunteering so gratifying. Using the dogs as stand-ins, the kids learn the values of patience, praise, consistency, and love. I encourage anyone with a friendly, empathetic dog to join us!
I participated in a therapy dog certification exam years ago and was so impressed. It really opened my eyes to how much dogs love to do a job for which they have been trained. They just have a beautiful agency – they know what they are supposed to do (ignore distractions like food within reach, stand calmly to be petted, not jump up, stand and walk calmly around wheelchairs, walkers, small children, respond to owner commands to come, sit, stay…) It was just lovely to watch them make the right decisions, being so responsive to owners and strangers, and safely sharing the joy of their happy, doggy selves. If I could be a dog owner and had a suitable dog, I’d do this in a heartbeat.