Mount Pleasant Magazine Nov/Dec 2021

79 www.MtPl easant . Pet | www.MPVet s . Pet | www. f acebook . com/MPpet s PETS F E A T U R E As the wife of a retired Army Infantry Officer, the concept of community engagement was instilled in me throughout his career. Supporting local areas who can bene- fit from the presence of therapy dogs is important. I want to attract, promote and most of all educate all of Charleston County with the limitless abilities these incredi- ble animals possess. I am proud to say we have done that at the Charleston International Airport, Local Pet Expos and our annual Blessing of the Therapy Animals Recognition Ceremony, to name a few. THERAPY DOG QUALIFICATIONS I am often asked “I’d like to volunteer in your program — how can my dog become a therapy dog?” A certified therapy dog must be a friendly dog. Breed is not limited to any specific type. Basic commands are essential — and therapy dogs should have already reached adulthood. Most organizations will not test puppies under 1 year old. If your dog is well-socialized, calm when meeting other people, not skittish when approached by shopping carts, roller blades or skateboards, in excellent health, has the ability to ignore other dogs and knows when to “leave it” — you could possibly have a wonderful therapy dog in your home, ready to volunteer. A dog must be registered through a nationally-recognized therapy organization. Once your dog has been approved, you are free to seek organizations that are appealing to you. Here at MUSC, we have onboarding procedures which involve an interview process, orientation, training and then observation. Many pet parents seek formal training from a variety of sources. Some do it to hone in on areas of concern, such as barking and pulling, and others pursue titles like Good Canine Citizen Awards. I support any and all methods that you believe will strengthen your dog’s skills and abilities. The year before the pandemic, 92 teams provided 10,619 bedside visits to our patients. That equates to 5,565 hours of pawsome memories! Now that we are back, I love to walk the halls, hoping to catch a glimpse of a volunteer team coming from or heading to a patient’s room. The human is always wearing a smile, and the canine therapist’s tail is swishing back and forth a hundred times a minute. That’s the sight I long to see because it reaffirms this team is loving their job. The wagging tail symbolizes the dog feeling purposeful, which creates this electric energy that seems to skyrocket up the leash to the human hand on the other end. It’s almost an indescribable experience to have helped someone during one of their darkest moments. There’s something very special about giving of your time and tal- ents to aid another human being. To be able to do that with your favorite furry friend takes it to an entirely new level. U