St. John’s Ambulance is looking for more therapy dogs in Grey Bruce.
Therapy Dog Co-ordinator Kay Parker says they have a team of 50 volunteers and over 40 dogs, but they need more in the Owen Sound, Grey County and on the Bruce Peninsula.
She says last year they visited over 31 hospitals and long-term care homes multiple times, but she says there are more visits they could make if they had more dogs.
Parker says therapy dogs bring a sense of joy, companionship and well-being to most residents.
She says petting a dog has been proven to help lower blood pressure, and distract people from pain or discomfort they may be feeling.
Parker says it also makes a lot of residents happy, because they might have had pets in the past they can no longer have anymore.
Parker says they are looking for dogs that are over one-and-a-half years old, have good temperaments and like attention.
She says the dogs will always be on-leash and under control of the volunteers, and must not get excited to easily.
More information can be found by contacting St. John’s Ambulance at the Owen Sound or Hanover branch.
