Furry Friends Therapy Dogs
Providing therapy dog visits on the Oregon coast
What About Your Dog?
Learn how to join Furry Friends
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:
Furry Friends Therapy Dogs, Inc. has outreach programs to educate the public as to the benefit and purpose of Furry Friends:
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: 541-267-7427
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!