How this all started

Having a therapy dog accompany me to work has been a dream of mine ever since I entered in to the social work profession.  In fact, one of my first social work positions involved working with youth with addictions.  Being a new grad, I got my start working the night shift.  At that time I had a black and white border collie/austrailian shepherd mix named Chance.  He was a SPCA adoptee and the sweetest rescue dog I'd ever met.  

The impact Chance had on the kids was fantastic!  On the day's that I would bring him to work my rapport with the kids increased enormously.  Minus all the hair he shed there really weren't any negatives about bringing him.  Not only did my dog help smooth out the night time routine for the kids/staff but he also helped me get through those long, long nights.  He was such a sweet dog and very loving.  Chance would refuse to go to sleep even though I'd bring his comfy bed.  He'd fight his sleepiness along with me and stare at me with those puppy bloodshot eyes.  

I've had a few different positions within health care, but the timing in my career and the timing in my life didn't allow me to pursue it until recently.  Chance, our old guy, passed away in June of 2014.  He lived to be 14 years old and our family still misses him very much.  Our kids would hug him when they were feeling sad (or happy!); as babies, crawling to the dog was a huge motivator; he'd 'wash' the kitchen floor for me after kids finished eating; loved, loved, loved his walks/runs; and no matter what he was always happy to see me.  Somehow he knew the second I was sad and would offer comfort by a touch, nudge, or laying his head on my lap and looking into my eyes.  That dog loved us and we loved him.....he's forever in our hearts.  

After Chance passed I swore I'd not get another dog and that we were just to busy with work and kids.  However, it didn't take long and I was longing for another fur baby :)  I'd recently started a positon in a long term care facility which allowed volunteers and family members to bring pets in to visit residents.  Apparently, a few years back one of the locked units (or neighbourhood) had a resident cat!

Timing in my personal life and in my career matched up and I begain thinking about how I could move forward on making my dream of working in partnership with a canaine therapist a reality .......