About Caring Canines... Caring Canines is a therapy dog group, founded in September 1999 by Donna Henley. We started with just a handful of friends who were interested in trying this fun kind of work. To date, we have over 40 dogs in our group.
Caring Canine's goal is to help provide emotional support, enable independence, and experience both the fun and health benefits that dogs bring to our lives.
This is an exciting group that brings a lot of joy to the dogs and their owners, as well as the people we visit. We have lots of fun as a group, and at the dog/handler team level.
	Donna & Ren on a visit.
Caring Canines consists of a variety of dog breeds. Each dog is tested under CGC (the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen certification) guidelines and certified by either TDInc. or Delta Pet Partners Program. Each dog is temperament tested to ensure the dog's comfort and reliability in a variety of settings and situations. All of our dog/handler teams perform in a professional, courteous manner.
Just what is a therapy dog?
Therapy dogs are trained to provide emotional support and love to people in nursing homes, senior centers, and other facilities where assisted care is needed. Therapy dogs provide companionship and physical assistance, and often help humans form therapeutic bonds that provide physical, psychological, and social benefits.
How are people affected by therapy dogs?
Interaction with dogs is known to lower blood pressure, reduces loneliness and depression, and can improve the sense of self-esteem and well-being.
Coronary patients are more likely to survive the first five years after surgery with visits from therapy dogs.
Visits with therapy dogs are known to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and can result in improved motivation and motor skills in people with physical disabilities.
Children who have difficulty opening up to adults will tell secrets to dogs. This helps them open up to counselors and friends. Children trapped in a cycle of antisocial behavior and violence are positively affected by dogs.
Therapy dogs were used after 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina to help survivors and rescue workers with the emotional toll of those events.