A group of dog owners and their pets have been spreading canine cheer throughout the community since 1997.
Hot Springs Therapy Inc. currently has around 50 dogs that visit a wide range of people in the community who could benefit from a visit by a furry visitor, but is looking for more.
The group currently has a little over 30 members. At its most recent meeting, sign-up sheets were passed around for people to visit Jackson House, Abilities Unlimited, the juvenile detention center, Ouachita Children's Center and the Garland County Library.
A news release from the nonprofit organization said that the visits reduce stress and anxiety in the people they visit, who range in age from children to seniors.
Director Judy Corwin asked each member to share a story of a memorable visit during the meeting, starting with two of her own stories. One was of a recent trip where a Great Dane visited a room of people who were playing pool. She said that the people who were in there loved the dog, which was as tall as the pool table. One woman asked where the dog's saddle was.
Corwin also told the story a blind man who jokingly asked her which end of the dog he was petting.
One member told of visiting a woman who had suffered a stroke and was trying to relearn how to talk. Upon seeing the dog enter the room, the woman's eyes brightened, and she was able to say "dog."
Another pet owner shared a story about her dog, named Sophie, and their visit to a woman who happened to hate the name Sophie. The woman said that her husband's first wife was named Sophie, and he always referred to her by that name. One day, though, she told Sophie's owner that the dog had done so much to help her that she no longer hated the name.
Each of the more than 20 people in the room shared similar stories.
"It's wonderful, because people just love them," said Susie Sexton, president of the group. Sexton also noted that many of the people at these places need love, "and dogs love unconditionally."
Sexton said that all types of dogs, big or small, are welcome in the group. There are a few rules, though. For example, the dogs must have up-to-date rabies shots, and all dogs must first go through temperament testing.
Temperament testing determines how a dog will react to various things like wheelchairs or loud noises. If a dog fails the testing, Sexton said that the owner can work with the dog and retake the tests in the future, but she also said that in the past four years, she has only seen one dog fail the tests.
While the group is about bringing dogs to people, they do also have one parrot, which is owned by Vice President Arlene Rannard. She said that people love getting to hold the bird, and she uses the experience as a teaching moment to tell the people more about birds.
Sexton said that if anybody wants to bring animals other than dogs to the group, the animal would have to be evaluated like the dogs, and the group would have to vote on whether to allow it to join.
The members of the group said that it is not only fun for them to go visit people, but that the dogs love it, too. Members Steve and Sherry Lunsford said that when they put on their Hot Springs Pet Therapy shirts, the dogs get excited and are ready to go see people.
Those who are interested in joining have to first attend two meetings before they can have their dogs tested. Meetings are held on the third Saturday of each month at National Park Medical Center in the Maurice Room. Dogs are not permitted to attend the meetings at the hospital. Dues to join are $25 per person per year.
Local on 02/17/2019