Over the years, thousands of shelter dogs have gone from rags to riches as they’ve been placed into caring and loving new homes.
Within these ranks of rescued animals are special dogs and cats who are now giving back to the community through animal-supported therapy efforts like the People-Connect programs at Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF). My six-year-old Lab, Sadie, is a fine example of ARF’s mission – People Rescuing Animals…Animals Rescuing PeopleTM.
Sadie was surrendered at three months of age and then experienced two unsuccessful placements. Neither family embraced the youthful exuberance a puppy can bring to a home. Her outgoing nature was not directed with training, so she was shuffled from house to house, never quite finding a family that would relish the joy she could bring to their lives.
Sadie was eventually rescued by ARF. Our experienced dog trainer discovered that she was a perfectly normal and fun-loving Labrador Retriever who just needed a little guidance and training. My family adopted Sadie and she was enrolled in ARF’s groundbreaking Teaching Loving Care (TLC) program.
Teaching Loving Care
TLC is an animal-assisted therapy program for adolescent girls at the Chris Adams Center in Contra Costa County. This center provides high-quality intervention services for young women in the juvenile justice system who have serious emotional and behavioral problems.
The girls work daily to care for, train, and socialize select ARF animals, building self-confidence and learning healthier ways of relating to others in the process. By helping the girls care for other living beings, this pet-assisted therapy program:
- Provides a positive environment in which therapists help the girls express and work through their experiences and emotions;
- Teaches important relationship and life skills; and
- Encourages compassion and empathy.
Visiting Animals Program
After graduating from the TLC program and joining our household, Sadie received her Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification and has become a member of ARF’s Visiting Animals Program (VAP). VAP supports Contra Costa County’s senior/acute care facility patients by visiting them with cats and dogs that are temperament-qualified for the experience.
Research has proven that human interaction with companion animals can provide a variety of physical and emotional health benefits, especially for isolated and poorly functioning patients. Sadie and ARF’s other therapy animals help promote those benefits by visiting facilities in our community.
Each visit allows time for introduction and animal interaction with ARF’s therapy dogs and cats. ARF’s team of therapy animals makes routine visits to 22 facilities within the county and also participates in community events at ARF and in the surrounding area.
It is rewarding and uplifting to me that Sadie has embraced the community with both paws. She gives of her heart and soul by participating in so many of ARF’s fulfilling People-Connect programs. I’m grateful that we’re both able to give back to our community by promoting ARF’s inspiring mission.
Elena Bicker is the executive director of Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF), where she oversees the day-to-day operations of ARF’s 37,700-square-foot facility in Walnut Creek. Ms. Bicker came to ARF in 1993 as a volunteer and joined the staff in 1998. She is assisted by Kayla, a golden retriever, and her yellow Labrador, Sadie.
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