Petworks In Progress:

Dogs and Good Deeds

Home
Feature Stories
Vet's Voice
Bird Beat
Fe-Lines
Aunt Debe
Agility Tips
Miss Behavior
Dogs-The Right Stuff
Archives

Breeder Directory
Classifieds

Oklahoma City:
Event Calendar
Adoption Outreach

Animal Welfare
OKC Animal Welfare
Favorite Links
Let's Go Shopping

About Us
Authors' Bios
Advertising Info
Writer's Guidelines

Subscribe
Okla. Distributors
Contact Us

Some dogs go far beyond the basic role of pet, and therapy dogs are certainly among them. The volunteers of Petworks in Progress visit hospitals, nursing homes and schools, not simply to socialize but as active participants in the healing and learning process. There is no pay, but there is reward–the satisfaction of good deeds for the owners, and pure enjoyment of the work for the dogs.

And there's no lack of work. There are thousands of people in Oklahoma with physical disabilities and thousands of children in schools with learning disabilities. Petworks volunteers team with healthcare professionals and educators in creative approaches to overcoming limitations and achieving physical, psychological, social and educational objectives.

If you're seeking self-recognition, look elsewhere, "Because the animals outshine us," says Petworks founder Kris Butler. "I get called the dog lady, but they remember the dog's name."

Butler and her husband Dennis, of Norman, may be the state's most recognized training team in programs that help animals help people. For over 20 years, they've done everything from teaching obedience to training service dogs, such as guides for the blind. But that's in pursuit of business. Petworks, started in 1995, is a pursuit of the heart.

That pursuit began with one dog, a golden retriever appropriately named Partner. He received an award from the Delta Society, a national therapy organization, as Therapy Dog of the Year–no small feat. A cash award came with the title and was used to incorporate the foundation as non-profit.

Partner died this summer at age 14, but others carry on his work. PetGazette talked with volunteers Sherry Gibson, Ally Richardson, Nancy Keiser and Chris Stickney, and an occupational therapist who sees their positive impact on patients.

"These animals are utilized as a treatment modality, helping patients meet rehabilitation goals," says Sheryl Shaw, assistant therapy manager at Mercy Health Center. "And this covers several disciplines: occupational, physical, speech and recreational therapy. It's very goal directed. The patient might need to work on walking or balance, motor coordination, communication skills, memory. You can address just about any situation with the dogs. They walk with patients and help with problem solving, like taking a collar on and off. There's a lap dog used with patients who have speech disorders. We let them tell us about the dog, or we tell them things and see how much they remember."

These tasks are elementary for the ordinary person, but not, for instance, someone recovering from a stroke.

"With the dogs, we've had people verbalize for the first time after a stroke," says Shaw. "They're more willing to use an arm that's been affected. They'll walk a greater distance. We see a whole different side of their personality. Some of them are so depressed, trying to cope with an illness or disability. But the dogs bring them out of that. We see them happy, interacting more. It makes therapy more of a fun activity."

The team–Top row from left: Mercy hospital’s Amy Thomas, Shaw and Amy Theissen. Bottom from left: Ally Richardson, Butler, Nancy Keiser and Gibson.

That's the reward for the staff and volunteers. As Richardson puts it, "For me, it's seeing the joy these dogs give people. I can't imagine the frustration they go through after a brain injury or stroke. They're cognizant of the fact they no longer have the same physical abilities, and they're striving to regain them. Then you bring in an animal which gives them love and acceptance, and they can forget for a time that they're in therapy and enjoy the animal. It doesn't seem like therapy, yet it helps them reach goals."

Gibson, one of the Mercy regulars, adds another benefit, "We get a better behaved dog." Which leads to the question, what type of dog qualifies? "The breed doesn't matter," she says, "but the dog has to enjoy it. They're like us, some are outgoing and friendly, others are shy or too aggressive. Some show signs of stress, and over time, some get burned out. But they can't say I don't want to do this anymore. You have to be able to read the signals."

That's where Butler and the Delta Society come in. All Petworks members are registered with the society, which provides training, screening and behavior guidelines for people and pets involved in animal-enhanced therapy. It also furnishes liability insurance to volunteer teams. Butler is a licensed instructor and evaluator for the organization.

"The society provides us with what I think are the highest national standards for screening and training," she says. "The evaluation process is a little different from other groups that focus on a dog's skills. That's 50 percent of ours; the other half is aptitude. All the skill in the world isn't enough without the right aptitude."

Keiser knows this well. She works with Gypsy, a second-generation therapy dog, following in the paw prints of her mother. "A lot of people think their dogs can be therapy dogs, because they're such sweet, loving pets at home, or even well trained in obedience. But when it comes to actually doing the work, not every dog is cut out for it. They may not be comfortable in a different environment. So, they may pass the skills test but not the aptitude."

Richardson believes the Butlers' many years of experience gives them an instinct for reading dogs and their abilities. "They have a knack for seeing potential–whether the dog will make just a good pet or can go a step further into therapy, or even further into service work. The average person doesn't have that ability. They can judge the relationship between dog and handler and see what bad habits need to be broken."

Understanding behavior is the key, according to Butler. "If you understand bad behavior, then you can choose how to redirect it. If you allow it to exist, then, in the dog's mind, it becomes appropriate. You have to think through and define the behavior, which is why we give the handlers more than words to say. We give them theory. Is it because the dog is fearful, aggressive or just stressed? You wouldn't deal with a stressed dog the same way as one that's being selfish or possessive. And you don't want to punish one that's stressed. That just adds more stress. You either remove the source of stress or help the dog work through it."

While Petworks is affiliated with the Delta Society, it receives no financial assistance. For that, it depends on donations. The society supplies training materials, but the volunteers pay for them. Petworks guides them through the process.

A veterinary health screening is required. Then, the human half of the team completes a home study course and attends a workshop to learn the best ways to interact with people who have special needs, and how to include pets safely in special settings.

Together, the team is tested for skills: walking together–under control and through a crowd, meeting strangers and other dogs, sitting, lying down, staying and coming when called. And aptitude: friendliness, reliability and enjoyment of interactions with unfamiliar people under stressful conditions and in unusual settings. The dogs must be people oriented, comfortable with hugging, touching, loud noises, clumsy movements, and be relaxed around wheelchairs, walkers and other equipment.

The result is some of the best animal handler volunteers in the country. Graduates aren't duty bound to join Petworks. They can go their own way, volunteering at various facilities, with the assurance that screening by Petworks and registration with Delta means credibility. If they join Petworks, the organization handles referrals. And the teams are re-evaluated every two years.

Plus, the Delta Society doesn't limit itself to dogs. It includes cats, rabbits and other animals. In any case, it requires the volunteers' commitment of time, work and finances. That's what makes them so admirable.

"I feel like I've been blessed in my life, and this is my way of giving back," says Keiser, who spends time at a nursing home. "It's amazing the effect Gypsy has on the people there. She draws them out of their rooms and their problems. Even Alzheimer patients come out of their little enclosed world.

"She also helps with motor skills. We play fetch, and she makes sure each person gets a turn. Some need to learn to use their muscles again. In fetching, they're using arms to throw and fingers to hold the ball. Or it might involve taking the harness on and off. I have brushes that are worn on the hands like gloves for those who can't open their hands all the way. Brushing can help with balance. In speech therapy, Gypsy works on my hand signals. The patient thinks he's giving a command, even if the words aren't coming out right. But he has the sense of well-being that it's coming out properly, and the dog is responding."

Gibson's dog Sunny specializes in walking with patients. He's one of four that visit Mercy each month. "And he enjoys it as much as I do," she says. "The patient, lead by a therapist, will usually see each dog and do different things with each."

"Volunteers like Sherry give a lot," says Shaw. "They're a well organized group. Kris has great passion for what she's doing. We couldn't have started this program without her, and it has been a great success."

"It is rewarding," says Butler. "To be able to work with dogs and then turn that into something that benefits people, I feel like the luckiest person in the world."

While this article has concentrated on the medical side, not to be overlooked is the educational aspect. That's why Chris Stickney's comments were saved for last, because they eloquently sum up what these dogs are about. Stickney, a Petworks member, is principal of Ninnekah High School.

"We have students with special needs, ones who don't function mentally or physically as well as the normal population," he says. "We bring our dog Bailey in here once a week, and they really look forward to seeing her. She stimulates positive responses and behavior through the desire to pet and work with her, coupled with her love. It doesn't matter to a dog what a kid looks like or how he moves. The dog still loves him, which is something humans aren't always able to do. It's unconditional love. Humans will judge you, but with the dog, they feel like equals."

For more information about Petworks visit them on the web at www.dogprograms.com/PetworksInProgress.htm.

Back to Archives

petworks
Kris Butler, founder & pres.

petworks2"
Volunteer Sherry Gibson

petworks3
Therapist Sheryl Shaw

petworks4


	© Copyright 2000-01 Ashworth Publishing LLC (OK PetGazette) No part of this Web site may be reproduced, transmitted or stored in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without prior written permission from Ashworth Publishing LLC (OK PetGazette)