Compassionate Canines has Comforted Central Oregon with Therapy Dogs for Almost 25 Years
When Heather Wingate loads up any of her five border terriers for a therapy dog visit in Central Oregon, she’s never quite sure what the experience will bring. Sometimes it’s walking into a room of children and watching her dog Lily zero in on a child who had a rough morning at home. Sometimes it’s a quiet moment with a hospital patient who has received unwelcome news. Many times it is walking through waiting rooms, classrooms or the airport to bring smiles, pets and pleasantries to all types of people. “There is nothing better than teaming up with a dog and sharing the same joy and love they give me with someone else,” said Wingate, who most often does therapy dog visits with her terriers Ozzy, Lily and Bunny, the three of her five dogs that seem to enjoy the work the most.
Wingate and her dogs are one of more than 80 human-dog therapy teams registered with Compassionate Canines, a volunteer-run organization that brings therapy dog teams into many locations across Central Oregon, including, but not limited to local hospitals and medical offices. Founded in 2001 by Mare Peters, the organization facilitates the certification of therapy dog teams, who then volunteer to make local visits where the dogs can interact with the public. This year will be the organization’s 24th serving the community.
Therapy Dogs 101
Different from service dogs or emotional support animals, therapy dogs are trained and certified to provide therapeutic and psychological benefits to the public by allowing people to pet, cuddle and hold them. Dogs can be any breed and need to be calm, confident and friendly in addition to having basic obedience commands down. Successful teams are made up of dogs and people who have a close relationship and good social skills, according to Jennifer Horsman, volunteer coordinator for Compassionate Canines. Horsman said service dogs should be the type who initiate socialization with other people with tails wagging, a soft face, good eye contact and calm behavior.
Compassionate Canines has therapy dogs who visit various settings throughout Central Oregon, including retirement communities, memory care facilities, a cancer center, elementary, middle and high schools, Redmond Municipal Airport and Central Oregon Community College during finals weeks.
Compassion For All
After years of therapy dog visits, many of the volunteers with Compassionate Canines have observed that the dogs often end up comforting people other than the intended recipients. Wingate has come to expect her intuitive 10-year-old border terrier Lily to sense who needs her attention the most. “Lily is pretty empathetic,” said Wingate, recalling a memorable visit to an ICU waiting room. Lily showed little interest in the waiting room occupants and kept staring at the hospital’s program coordinator across the room, who finally bent down to call over the scruffy terrier. As it turns out, that week had been difficult for the woman, who had spent the past few days cleaning out a garage full of her late husband’s things. “Lily ran right over and put her entire body against her,” Wingate said. “Lily definitely knew she needed her more than the family in the ICU did.”
Wingate said it’s experiences like those that remind her why she’s so passionate about therapy dog work and so inspired by the moments of comfort that dogs can provide to people in need. “There is no better feeling than having that kind of purpose in life—I feel it, and I know that all five of my therapy dogs do, too.”
To learn more about Compassionate Canines of Central Oregon, including information about requesting therapy dog visits for events or programs, or pursuing certification for a new therapy dog team, see compassionate-canines.org.
Compassionate Canine Facts
- 86 registered therapy dog teams
- Handlers range in age from 18 to 80 years old
- Dogs range in age from 18 months to 13 years old
- 34 different breeds of dogs
