Furry Friends Therapy Dogs

Providing therapy dog visits on the Oregon coast

About Us

Learn more about Furry ​Friends Therapy Dogs

Co​ntact Us

Get in touch with us.

About Therapy ​Dogs

Get up to 50% discount on ​select pieces from last ​season.

What About ​Your Dog?

Learn how to join Furry ​Friends

Canine Good ​Citizen Test

We offer testing for the ​AKC’s Canine Good Citizen ​Certification

Ph​otos

Photos of some of our ​fun outings and ​members​

About Us

Furry Friends Therapy Dogs, Inc. was founded by a group of like-minded persons who were involved in visits to several local care giving ​facilities. This venture, in time, evolved into an organization which, in addition to visiting various facilities, recruits and evaluates other ​volunteers and their dogs for therapy work.


It has long been demonstrated that the comforting interaction between animals, dogs in particular, and humans have lessened, and even ​alleviated, some of the many afflictions associated with aging, depression, poor health, hospital stays or confinement.


It is our belief that even brief visits and contact with gentle dogs have actually contributed to the mental well being of many individuals.


Furry Friends Therapy Dogs, Inc. operates under Bylaws spelling out the orderly and democratic conduct of business. The organization is ​comprised of members who reside in a relatively compact geographic area and conduct scheduled visits to many facilities.


Furry Friends Therapy Dogs, Inc. on-going goals include:


  • Therapy dog visits to health care facilities
  • Education programs on dog safety and dog ownership responsibility
  • Furry Friends Book Club at Coos Bay Library
  • Recruit members and their pet dogs
  • Evaluate the human/dog teams
  • Research the need for visitations at various facilities


Furry Friends Therapy Dogs, Inc. has outreach programs to educate the public as to the benefit and purpose of Furry Friends:


  • Booths at local fairs and festivals
  • Media Advertising
  • Speakers’ bureau for local local civic groups


The Internal Revenue Service has determined that Furry Friends Therapy Dogs, Inc. is exempt from Federal income tax under section ​501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Cod as of February 18, 2004. Federal EIN is 20-0656294.


Donations are tax-deductible.


Furry Friends Therapy Dogs, Inc. is registered with the Secretary of State, Corporate Division , State of Oregon as a domestic nonprofit ​corporation. The nonprofit type is Public Benefit with Members. Articles of Incorporation were filed on February 18, 2004. Registration ​Number is 201774-99.


Furry Friends Therapy Dogs, Inc. is also registered, under the Charitable Trust and Corporation Act, with the Oregon Department of Justice, ​Charitable Activities Section. The By-Laws were accepted April 22, 2004. Registration Number is 33234.


Contact Us

Facebook: Furry Friends Therapy Dogs Facebook page

Phone: (541) 269-2876

Email: furryfriendstherapydogs@gmail.com


Address:

Furry Friends Therapy Dogs, Inc.

PO Box 601

Coos Bay OR 97420


Meetings:

4th Thursday of the month at 1:00 p.m. except Thursday, November 3rd and Thursday, December 3rd.

Coos Bay Library

525 Anderson

Coos Bay OR 97420


Service Dog vs. Therapy Dog vs. Emotional Support Dog

Many people who see our Therapy Dogs dressed in their blue vests think that they are service dogs. We get a lot of questions from people ​in the community about the difference between a Service Dog and a Therapy Dog.


A Service Dog is specially trained for a specific person’s needs. There are guide dogs for the blind, seizure alert dogs for epileptics, allergen ​sniffing dogs for people who are deathly allergic to certain things, like peanuts. Service dogs can go anywhere that their handler goes – into ​stores, on public transportation, etc., as long as the dog is clean and well-behaved. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines ​service dogs and their access to public spaces.


Therapy Dogs are invited into a facility or event to provide therapy to people other than their handler. They go into nursing homes, ​hospitals, pediatric facilities and schools to provide therapy and education to the patients and students.


Emotional Support Dogs are not trained to perform specific tasks related to their owner’s diability. They are not Service Animals under the ​Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),


It is important to note that a Therapy Dog has no rights to enter an animal restricted area (grocery store, public transportation, etc), and are ​only allowed where they are invited to visit. Therapy Dogs are not protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act.


Furry Friends Therapy Dogs visit health care facilities and schools. They do not wear their vests for the personal needs of their owner.

Canine Good Citizen Test

Furry Friends Therapy Dogs, Inc. offers testing for the American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Good Citizen (CGC)Certification every 2 or 3 ​months. All dogs pass the CGC test before they can be considered for Therapy Team Evaluations.


The CGC testing requirements are listed below. This information was taken directly from the AKC Website (http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/​training_testing.cfm).


Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger


This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger to approach it and speak to the handler in a natural, everyday situation. ​The evaluator walks up to the dog and handler and greets the handler in a friendly manner, ignoring the dog. The evaluator and handler ​shake hands and exchange pleasantries. The dog must show no sign of resentment or shyness, and must not break position or try to go to ​the evaluator.


Test 2: Sitting politely for petting


This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger to touch it while it is out with its handler. With the dog sitting at the ​handler’s side, to begin the exercise, the evaluator pets the dog on the head and body. The handler may talk to his or her dog throughout ​the exercise. The dog may stand in place as it is petted. The dog must not show shyness or resentment.


Test 3: Appearance and grooming


This practical test demonstrates that the dog will welcome being groomed and examined and will permit someone, such as a veterinarian, ​groomer or friend of the owner, to do so. It also demonstrates the owner’s care, concern and sense of responsibility. The evaluator ​inspects the dog to determine if it is clean and groomed. The dog must appear to be in healthy condition (i.e., proper weight, clean, healthy ​and alert). The handler should supply the comb or brush commonly used on the dog. The evaluator then softly combs or brushes the dog, ​and in a natural manner, lightly examines the ears and gently picks up each front foot. It is not necessary for the dog to hold a specific ​position during the examination, and the handler may talk to the dog, praise it and give encouragement throughout.


Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)


This test demonstrates that the handler is in control of the dog. The dog may be on either side of the handler. The dog’s position should ​leave no doubt that the dog is attentive to the handler and is responding to the handler’s movements and changes of direction. The dog ​need not be perfectly aligned with the handler and need not sit when the handler stops. The evaluator may use a pre-plotted course or ​may direct the handler/dog team by issuing instructions or commands. In either case, there should be a right turn, left turn, and an about ​turn with at least one stop in between and another at the end. The handler may talk to the dog along the way, praise the dog, or give ​commands in a normal tone of voice. The handler may sit the dog at the halts if desired.


Test 5: Walking through a crowd


This test demonstrates that the dog can move about politely in pedestrian traffic and is under control in public places. The dog and handler ​walk around and pass close to several people (at least three). The dog may show some interest in the strangers but should continue to ​walk with the handler, without evidence of over-exuberance, shyness or resentment. The handler may talk to the dog and encourage or ​praise the dog throughout the test. The dog should not jump on people in the crowd or strain on the leash.


Test 6: Sit and down on command and Staying in place


This test demonstrates that the dog has training, will respond to the handler’s commands to sit and down and will remain in the place ​commanded by the handler (sit or down position, whichever the handler prefers). The dog must do sit AND down on command, then the ​owner chooses the position for leaving the dog in the stay. Prior to this test, the dog’s leash is replaced with a line 20 feet long. The handler ​may take a reasonable amount of time and use more than one command to get the dog to sit and then down. The evaluator must ​determine if the dog has responded to the handler’s commands. The handler may not force the dog into position but may touch the dog ​to offer gentle guidance. When instructed by the evaluator, the handler tells the dog to stay and walks forward the length of the line, turns ​and returns to the dog at a natural pace. The dog must remain in the place in which it was left (it may change position) until the evaluator ​instructs the handler to release the dog. The dog may be released from the front or the side.


Test 7: Coming when called


This test demonstrates that the dog will come when called by the handler. The handler will walk 10 feet from the dog, turn to face the dog, ​and call the dog. The handler may use encouragement to get the dog to come. Handlers may choose to tell dogs to “stay” or “wait” or they ​may simply walk away, giving no instructions to the dog.


Test 8: Reaction to another dog


This test demonstrates that the dog can behave politely around other dogs. Two handlers and their dogs approach each other from a ​distance of about 20 feet, stop, shake hands and exchange pleasantries, and continue on for about 10 feet. The dogs should show no ​more than casual interest in each other. Neither dog should go to the other dog or its handler.


Test 9: Reaction to distraction


This test demonstrates that the dog is confident at all times when faced with common distracting situations. The evaluator will select and ​present two distractions. Examples of distractions include dropping a chair, rolling a crate dolly past the dog, having a jogger run in front of ​the dog, or dropping a crutch or cane. The dog may express natural interest and curiosity and/or may appear slightly startled but should ​not panic, try to run away, show aggressiveness, or bark. The handler may talk to the dog and encourage or praise it throughout the ​exercise.


Test 10: Supervised separation


This test demonstrates that a dog can be left with a trusted person, if necessary, and will maintain training and good manners. Evaluators ​are encouraged to say something like, “Would you like me to watch your dog?” and then take hold of the dog’s leash. The owner will go out ​of sight for three minutes. The dog does not have to stay in position but should not continually bark, whine, or pace unnecessarily, or show ​anything stronger than mild agitation or nervousness. Evaluators may talk to the dog but should not engage in excessive talking, petting, or ​management attempts (e.g, “there, there, it’s alright”).


Equipment


All tests must be performed on leash or harness. Dogs should wear well-fitting buckle or slip collars made of leather, fabric, or chain, or a ​harness. Special training collars such as pinch collars, head halters, etc. are not permitted in the CGC test. We recognize that special training ​collars may be very useful tools for beginning dog trainers, however, we feel that dogs are ready to take the CGC test at the point at which ​they are transitioned to regular collars or harnesses.


The evaluator supplies a 20-foot lead for the test. The owner/handler should bring the dog’s brush or comb to the test.


Encouragement


Owners/ handlers may use praise and encouragement throughout the test. The owner may pet the dog between exercises. Food and ​treats are not permitted during testing, nor is the use of toys, squeaky toys, etc. to get the dog to do something. We recognize that food ​and toys may provide valuable reinforcement or encouragement during the training process but these items should not be used during ​the test.


Failures – Dismissals


Any dog that eliminates during testing must be marked failed. The only exception to this rule is that elimination is allowable in test Item 10, ​but only when test Item 10 is held outdoors.


Any dog that growls, snaps, bites, attacks, or attempts to attack a person or another dog is not a good citizen and must be dismissed from ​the test.

What About Your Dog?

Does your dog enjoy people, get along well with other dogs, and know basic obedience? Do you enjoy meeting new people? If so, your ​dog may be ready to join Furry Friends as a therapy dog.


Each Furry Friend Therapy Dog is a personal pet. Each dog has passed the Canine Good Citizen Test. Each dog has passed three ​evaluation/training visits at local care facilities. Each dog is gentle and well-mannered.


The people of Furry Friends Therapy Dogs are volunteers who enjoy sharing their special dog with others. A therapy visit usually consists of ​two members and their two dogs going to one care facility in Coos County. Visits last up to one hour. Resident or patients can pet the dogs ​and talk to the volunteers.


Our monthly schedules are designed to fit our volunteers’ availability.


To find out more, come to our next monthly meeting which is listed on the HOME page. To ask a question, go to the CONTACT US page.

Photos

Coming soon!