Therapy Pets

Pet therapy is a relatively new concept in the Mini-Cassia area, and as such, Therapy Pets Serving Mini-Cassia had a very slow start. It all started with three determined handlers, three wonderful dogs, and three facilities willing to take a risk on a new organization. Lori K and Cassie moved to Burley, Idaho, in the summer of 2000. Both Lori K and Cassie were registered Pet Partner Teams with Therapy Dogs, Incorporated (TD Inc.). Before moving to Burley, they had been doing pet therapy work in Nebraska and wanted to continue that work. What Lori K and Cassie discovered was that there was not a local group and few people knew anything about pet therapy. However, Lori K discovered a kindred animal lover in a co-worker, Lori F. Lori F, with help from Lori K and Cassie, found and adopted a wonderful greyhound, Ellie, which later she registered through Delta Society. Lori F. tested for Delta Society, the evaluator was a member of a small group of Delta volunteers, which was also part of an affiliate group Intermountain Therapy Animals (ITA). After successfully completing the test for Delta Society, and Delta's registration process, Lori F. and Ellie became a pet partner team and members of Delta Society and ITA. Lori K, Cassie, and Lori F along with Chan, Lori K’s Akita, Eyes, Lori K and Cassie’s greyhound, and Ellie, Lori F’s greyhound comprised the beginnings of Therapy Pets Serving Mini-Cassia. Lori F with the assistance of Connie contacted and arranged to visit Rupert Long Term Care and the Cassia Regional Medical Center. Lori K. and Cassie contacted and arranged to visit Parke View Care and Rehabilitation. The small group secured permission to start visiting those facilities and the beginnings of Therapy Pets Serving Mini-Cassia was born.

On their very first visit to Rupert Long Term Care the small group met Angel. Angel was told there would be three small therapy dogs coming that evening to visit. The three handlers walked into the facility with Chan the Akita, Eyes and Ellie both greyhounds, none of which are small dogs, and not a little dog in site. As they entered the facility a food serving cart came around the corner and startled Chan. He barked once, but it echoed through the place. Once the group started visiting, it was apparent these were indeed therapy animals. They were polite, asked permission to approach, and worked quietly with the residents.

As the small group gained confidence with the facilities, they also gained some exposure in the community when the South Idaho Press ran an article on a new pet partner team. The featured about Felicia and her Bullmastiff / Saint Bernard cross, Mattie, registered through Delta Society. Luckily, the article listed Felicia’s phone number. Lori F. contacted her and she joined the young pet therapy organization. Felicia brought with her the facility she had been visiting which was Vista Long Term Care.

Around that same time, Chan began suffering from allergies and was not able to visit for over a month, which was devastating to the small group. Lori K decided that Honey, her standard poodle, would also make an excellent therapy pet, and registered him through Therapy Dogs, Inc. Lori K was also able to obtain permission to visit with Eyes, since they lived in the same household. Therefore, by the end of 2003, the small organization had grown to four handlers and five dogs. A reporter for the South Idaho Press saw the first visit that Honey went on to Parke View. She was driving by and had seen the dogs get out in the scarves and go into the facility. She followed them in and did a very nice article on the three dogs that visited therapy that day.

The small group decided to try to recruit more pet partner teams and help explain the pet therapy program to anyone who was interested. They had an informative open house. It was well attended by people interested in pet therapy work. Two separate facility activity directors attended the open house and spoke very positively about the pet therapy program. Unfortunately, no new teams were added, but there were requests for visitations from three more facilities.

Another big milestone came in 2003, when Lori K applied, and was accepted as a Therapy Dogs, Inc. Tester/Observer. For the first time, volunteers would not have to travel to Pocatello, Twin Falls, Sun Valley, or Boise to gain registration for their dogs. The small group hoped that this would present opportunities for growth, and ultimately, it did.

The facility patients and residents quickly grew to love the pet partner teams and looked forward to the evenings when the dogs would come to visit. Consequently, it was decided that some small stuffed bears would be purchased to hand out to the patients and resident for Valentines Day 2004. They were little white bears with red hearts that said I love you. Tags were made and attached to the bears with the dogs pictures on them. The small gifts were a big hit with the patients and residents. The small group found themselves wanting to give out additional gifts, but the four volunteers had purchased the stuffed animals with their own funds, so additional gifts would be difficult to finance. Fortunately, a fundraising opportunity came along through Lori F and her connection with the Civil Air Patrol. The small group of volunteers helped operate the Civil Air Patrol’s Scone Booth for the Rupert Fourth of July Festivities. This funding opportunity gave the new organization some desperately needed funds, and made it necessary for a more formal organization. The group decided on the name Therapy Pets Serving Mini-Cassia. They open a checking account, ordered business cards, shirts, bandannas, and adopted a logo. Therapy Pets Serving Mini-Cassia was off and running.

Melissa had heard of pet therapy work while she lived in Oregon, but it was not until she moved to Idaho that she began to do some serious investigation. Melissa’s veterinarian gave her Felicia’s name and number as a contact person. Melissa took the opportunity to observe Lori K with Honey and Cassie with Eyes during a visit to Rupert Long Term Care. The experience convinced her that she wanted to get involved in pet therapy work, so in August of 2004, she and her Yorkshire Terrier, Wicket, passed the Delta registration process and joined Therapy Pets Serving Mini-Cassia.

Around that same time, Lori F registered her Miniature Schnauzer, Lexie, through Delta Society. Additionally, Felicia registered her second dog, Sheba, a Collie mix, with Delta Society. By the fall of 2004, the group had grown to five handlers and eight dogs. With bolstered numbers, the group felt comfortable expanding to additional facilities, so they started visiting Highland Estates, Burley Care Center, and Mini-Cassia Juvenile Detention.

The main core group started with from left to right: Chan, Eyes, Lori K., Honey, Ellie, Lori F., Lexie, Melissa, Wicket, Felicia, Mattie and Sheba. Cassie could not make picture day so she is pictured below.

Therapy Pets Serving Mini-Cassia had the opportunity to do several presentations, participate in a number of health fairs, and was able to host a couple of open houses, which all lead to additional exposure in the community. In the spring of 2005, Therapy Pets Serving Mini-Cassia was able to host a Delta Society Evaluation Workshop. The workshop was hugely successful for the group, and led to the addition of five new handlers and seven new animals. Lori F decided to evaluate her cat, Walmart, because of numerous requests that the group had received from long-term residents at the facility they visited. Walmart was a natural and passed with flying colors. Lori K was able to register her fourth animal, Peaches, an older miniature poodle who was deaf. But most importantly, new volunteers passed the Delta Society evaluation and joined Therapy Pets Serving Mini-Cassia. Deb registered her adorable Shih-Tzu, Wilson, and Lisa registered her mesmerizing Shepherd / Husky mix, Blue.

Walmart the cat in his visiting basket, Lori and Peaches, Deb and Wilson, Lisa and Blue

The Delta Society evaluation workshop led to additional interest and Lori K was later able to test and observe three additional teams. Barb and her beautiful Soft-Coated Wheaton Terrier, Reggie, passed the Therapy Dogs, Inc. evaluation process and were accepted as a pet partner team. Additionally, Chris and Molly, a delightful energetic Yellow Lab, also successfully registered with Therapy Dogs, Inc. Delinda and GiGi, a Pug / Chihuahua mix, also registered with Therapy Dogs, Inc. and joined Therapy Pets Serving Mini-Cassia. This brought the small groups number up to ten handlers and fourteen animals.

Chris and Molly, Barb and Reggie, Delinda and GiGi

In the spring of 2005, Lori K. lost her miniature poodle, Peaches, due to a combination of old age and the dog flu. With the loss of her small dog, Lori K. was looking for a smaller candidate for therapy. Lori K rescued a nice – ugly and smelly, but nice – little dog by the name of Sassy. Once in a loving home, Sassy cleaned up nicely and blossomed into a great pet, so Lori K tested and registered Sassy through Therapy Dogs, Inc.

Sassy

In December of 2005, Therapy Pets Serving Mini-Cassia was able to find a Delta Society evaluator, and several animals were able to pass the evaluation process. We are expecting the addition of Zoey, a Yorkshire Terrier, Simba, a rescued greyhound, and Jinx, a calico cat. Chris and Molly also passed the Delta Society registration process and now will be registered through Delta Society.

Jinx not pictured

Zoey Lori F. and Simba

With the good also comes the bad. Felicia left the group when she was offered a job in California. Shortly after moving to California, Mattie died of bone cancer. Most recently, we lost Eyes to bone cancer. Without the special animals that we work with, none of this would be possible, and those friends that have passed on will be sorely missed. Please see our memorial page with more information and tributes to those we have lost.