There is no question that man’s best friend holds a special place in the hearts of many, but did you know that those furry critters also hold a special place in the classroom? Thanks to dedicated volunteers, divine canines® has been able to provide animal assisted therapy to children and adults in the Austin area since 2004.
divine canines® consists of over 75 dog handlers that underwent intensive training programs to gain their dogs the certification necessary to be utilized as a therapy dog. Each volunteer will then make at least two service visits per month in order for their pooch to maintain the skills acquired during training. Their mission, “Partnering with our dogs to enhance the well-being of those in need.”
Since every school is comprised of a unique population of students with varying needs, the role of divine canines® can differ from school to school. One way that the dogs may be used in the classroom is through the Barking Book Buddies program. Dogs are great listeners while students of all ages and ability levels read books either individually or in a group setting. The volunteers are great encouraging the students to respond to the text whether it is noting phonics patterns or evaluating events of the story. Another reason schools may want to invite the divine canines® out is for therapy that the dogs can provide to students experiencing severe mental or physical issues. According to part of the philosophy from the divine canines®, “there exists a deep, mysterious bond of healing between humans and their dogs.” The bonding that occurs when the dogs visit these groups delights both the humans and canines.
These heroic dogs and handlers don’t stop there. They actually extend their services to assist elderly with Alzheimer’s, wounded soldiers returning from war, children and adults with autism, and specialized care to health care and residential institutions.
Currently serving over 20 sites in the Austin area, the divine canines® would encourage anyone with a passion for healing others and a loveable dog that can do the same to investigate whether this organization would be good volunteer match or not. No dog? No problem. divine canines® always needs funding to help further their mission of bringing smiles through the bonding of dogs and humans. Every dollar you donate brings $10 worth of services to the community in the form of outreach, education, and training. Furthermore, if you have a school or type of care facility and would like to be a recipient of the services offered by divine canines, please contact divine canines and inquire about how they may be incorporated in your establishment.
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