Hudson Valley Paws for a Cause Bring Joy

written by Cathy Radziemski

You can’t open a newspaper or magazine, or watch a news clip or documentary, or peruse the dog books in a bookstore these days without seeing the story of a dog that is labeled a “Therapy Dog”. In The Hudson Valley in the summer of 2011, a small group of dedicated Therapy Dogs and their owners took on a different therapy challenge. They agreed to lend their time and talents to a group of veterans at West Point.  These men, women and their dogs were already trained and experienced visitors. The new challenge was mainly an organizational one. Dogs and handlers needed to fulfill requirements of the Red Cross volunteer program as well as pass through a rigorous Army scrutiny. The teams would visit with veterans in the Army’s Warriors in Transition program.

The stresses of war have always plagued those who return from duty. But the terrorist tactics faced by the men and women in today’s military have made a return to active duty or the transition to stateside civilian life particularly challenging. Hudson Valley Paws for a Cause Pet Therapy is a volunteer group of people and their dogs who visit Soldiers at West Point Military Academy in New York State on a weekly basis. The teams of owners and dogs greet the Soldiers with wagging tails and warm greetings. For an hour or so the Soldiers are happy to be distracted by the friendly animals. Many Soldiers are regulars and try to see the dogs every week. The dogs look forward to it too!

A number of the teams have R.E.A.D. Certification (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) which allow dogs to visit schools and libraries where children who are having difficulty with reading aloud, “read to the dogs”. This has been shown to have a very beneficial effect in helping students improve their reading skills. In addition to their work with the Warriors in Transition program, Paws volunteers visit children and families from all branches of the Armed Forces once a week at the Army Community Center at West Point. The children love to R.E.A.D. and play with the dogs. Relationships and bonds are built with the children, dogs, handlers and parents, a wonderful experience for all involved.

It’s important to point out the distinction between “therapy dogs” and “service dogs”. In the world of working dogs, the Service or Companion dog has a unique place. These dogs are trained to do tasks that their owners cannot do for themselves or do without assistance. They are allowed on airplanes and in restaurants — any place their owners need assistance.

Therapy Dogs, like Service Dogs, also have special training and certification; but therapy training simply focuses the dog’s natural instinct to please humans.  Any dog can be a Therapy Dog. A calm and happy temperament is the first requirement, supplemented with basic behavior training and a series of training sessions with a certified Therapy Dog trainer. Dogs who go visiting must be able to walk calmly with their owners, be under control of basic commands, and not be bothered by hospital equipment, unexpected noises, or energetic petting. Dogs of all sizes and breeds (including any mixed breed) are welcome in the world of pet therapy.

Although Therapy Dogs do not have the privilege of being in restaurants or airplanes, there isn’t much else that is closed to them. They are found in nursing homes, hospitals, schools, libraries, day care centers, crisis centers, homeless shelters, airports and prisons.  Wherever they go, they bring smiles and comfort. Unlike Service Dogs, who can generally be petted only by their owners when they are working, Therapy Dogs live to be petted by everyone they meet!

One more activity that was so popular it will probably be repeated was the “De-Stress Day” for West Point cadets at finals time. The smiles were proof that the stress of tests melted away when the students interacted with the “canine therapists.”

Not only do teams visit the Soldiers at West Point, but most of the Paws teams continue their other tasks, visiting nursing homes, rehab centers, libraries, schools, group homes and schools for children with special needs.

Paws Volunteer Coordinator is Judy Audevard. Members say, “She is the cohesive force behind our group. She keeps us going with a positive hardworking attitude that is contagious to all who meet her.”

You can find “Paws” on their Facebook page at facebook.com/hvpaws. Pictures and stories there will keep you posted on the people and dogs who participate in this wonderful effort!

Anyone interested in joining the group can contact Judy at [email protected] .

This article, written by our team member, Cathy Radziemski, along with the pictures taken by photographer Alley Maher, was submitted to Rivertown by Cathy and was published in Rivertown’s November 2013 issue.