Dog Days of Summer

A recent development occurring during these dog days of summer is that my 6 year-old French Bulldog, Reuben Sandwich and I were successfully evaluated and certified as a Therapy Dog Team by the Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD).

Therapy dog teams visit lots of different settings, like airports, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, rehab facilities, mental health institutions, hospitals, cancer centers, hospice facilities, correctional facilities and can also provide therapy in patients’ homes.

Reuben can now bring comfort to so many people! He is a very good boy and loves to make new friends. That’s great in and of itself, but research shows dogs can trigger the hormone oxytocin, also known as the “feel-good” hormone, reducing stress and anxiety. And petting a therapy dog can reduce blood pressure and decrease cortisol levels. I’m so proud to be Reuben’s handler and teammate and happy to be of service to those who need the comfort a dog can provide.