Getting Charlie a job!

[Ann W]

One of the reason I joined this group was to be able to learn from all of those that do. So now I have a question for this group? School will be starting soon in our area. I want very much to get Charlie(the doodle boy) involed in our area doing therapy work. He passed his TDI, has his CGC, so is very ready. The school that my DD's go to don't have a dog that comes to visit for reading. So finally my question is...How do I find work for Charlie? Also we have an Senior Center behind our house that also has an Adult Day Care. I was lead to believe from a source up there that they were not interested at all in a Therpay dog. I find that hard to believe. We all know that you can't but help to love a doodle! Suggestion....Thanks:) PS: I post last night, but should have started a discussion so it would be easy for feed back. Thanks again for sharing with us!

[Adina P]

Hi Ann!

Does TDI not have a list of facilities near you or other TDI registered teams? I know with Delta Society I can look to see if there are other Delta folks near me and many cities have groups that form with Delta pet partners and "book" facilities as a group.

We don't have that here so I created my own gigs.

Here's what I would do:

1) Put together a introduction letter: Hi my name is Ann and my dog Charlie recently became a registered Therapy dog. We are interested in starting regular visits to brighten your residents' (for the adult day care) day. Would you be interested in setting up a time to meet and discuss the posibility of having animal assisted therapy at your facility? -- you can word it more appropriately for your needs and send it AS an email not letter.

2) Follow up with a phone call--or skip the letter and go for the call in the first place.

That's essentially what I would do. Also if you can't find TDI folks locally...contact Delta Society and maybe they have teams nearby. I know Ann and Sully do visits at various places.

Adina

[Ann W]

Adina,
Thanks. I have started a letter for Charile and myself. I really like the thought for the Adult Day Care center. I'm going to hound them:) I know that Ann is really busy! Charlie and I just started a class with her. I'm not sure what we shall receive from TDI. I'm just so excited and with the school year getting ready to start wanted to get a jump on it.

[Adina P]

OH...and if you are interested in schools, stop by a few schools to meet with their principle. Bring some printouts about therapy work or search the internet for stories about programs similar to what you want to do with a list of benefits (what is in it for THEM or their students or their residents?) and even a photo of Charlie. Maybe make a little resume of Charlie's attributes and the things he had to pass for the TDI (in case they are not familiar with TDI).

[20xlhzzaoccks]

I found that when I called various Nursing Homes, they were interested. I found one by my house and she talked about Steve having a tryout and the residents loved him. I am not going there anymore because I am an Elementary School counselor and he comes to work with me now. I know the hospitals in our area are always looking for therapy dogs. They are hard to come by becasue both hospital systems require that dogs be registered with TDI or Delta. There is a Children's Hospital and a Psychiatric Hospital that like to have therapy dogs come visit in our area so if you have any hosptial systems in your area they may have programs already set up. You might want to press the Adult Day Care Center for a tryout to see how it goes. I'm sure Charlie will win them over!