by Lee Juslin

When Deb got her Maltese puppy, Kalia, whose name in Greek means good and beautiful, she was determined that the little pup would follow in the paw steps of her previous Maltese, Simka, as a therapy dog.

Deb, a martial arts teacher, began Kalia’s training by taking her to work where it became immediately evident that Kalia loved children. Next Deb and Kalia, at four months old, followed experienced therapy dogs on their rounds during hospice visits. Deb and Simka had visited in hospitals and hospice facilities, and Deb was hoping to do the same with Kalia. But, how to capitalize on Kalia’s love of children.

Kalia

Kalia easily passed obedience training and earned her CGC so that by the time she was a year old she was ready to become a certified therapy dog. Deb and Kalia, as members of Love on a Leash, began therapy visits on their own, and Kalia soon developed a rather unlikely friendship with Devlin, a Doberman Pinscher and also a certified therapy dog and member of Love on a Leash. (See Devil of a Therapy Dog). A Mutt and Jeff duo for sure!

Deb and Kalia visited in hospice and also Kennewick Hospital where it takes six months for therapy dogs to be cleared for pediatric visits.

But Deb, still thinking about Kalia’s special love for children, wanted to extend Kalia’s therapy visits to include more children. Then, through hospice, she learned about Cork’s Place, a facility aimed at helping children ages three through eighteen who are grieving the loss of a loved one. The facility did not have a therapy pet program, but Deb was able to work with them to start one.

Cork’s Place provides a nonjudgmental environment where the children can express feelings more openly than they perhaps can at home. The program is divided into groups according to age, and a small group of therapy dog teams, including Kalia’s best friend, Devlin, visit the facility twice per month. At Cork’s Place, the therapy dog teams wait in the lobby for the kids to arrive. They greet the children and meet any new participants. Then, the group of kids meets in something called the Circle Room.

Cork's Place

Read more animal related articles by Lee here in KRL.

Lee Juslin a graduate of Bucknell University with a master’s degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and is a freelance copywriter who lives in NC. Until recently, she was active in pet therapy with her certified therapy dog, Frosty, and owns I B Dog Gone, an embroidery business dedicated to supporting several terrier rescue organizations.