Meet our Teams
Dolores Schaub, Chelsea (Doberman), Gizmo (Moluccan Cockatoo), Luna (Doberman) - Program Founder
CJ Puotinen, Chloe (Black Lab) - Program Founder - CJ and Chloe have retired from our program as of April 2009 and we miss them!
Diane Anderson, Torrie (White Shepherd), Tara (Black Shepherd), Delta Evaluator
Julie Audi, Zoe (Lab Mix)
Barbara Babikan, Kaila (Shetland Sheepdog), Lille (Shetland Sheepdog)
KC Delfino, Kala (Chocolate Lab), Coco (Chocolate Lab)
Susan Dickens, Topsy (Standard Poodle)
Annette Diskin, Star (Greyhound)
Marsha Dominguez, Primo (Portugese Water Dog)
Brian Dwyer, Cleo (Greyhound)
Nancy Freeman, Team Escort
David Fritz, Cassie (Golden Retriever)
Caroline Higgins, Cadbury (Rabbit), Dennis (Guinea Pig)
Francine Hellman, Chief (Golden Retriever), Sammy (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel)
Heidi Henderson, Shasta & Emma (Bernese Mountain Dogs)
Risa Hoag, Annie (Lab/Husky mix)
Roberta Mikkelsen, Chip McGrath (Greyhound), Skylar (Whippet)
Virginia Montoya, Booka (Mini-Dachshund)
Stacey Samela, Beatles & Vista (Dachsunds), Brittney (Coursing Hound), Trainer
Kay Scott, Diamond (Golden Retriever), Spirit (Golden Retriever), Delta Evaluator
Kathy Signorile, Jordan (Rottweiler), Carlee (Rottweiler)
Nancy Strouss, Jadie (Golden Retriever), Trainer
Lois Weiss, Gilly (Golden Retriever)
Sarah Wilson, Author, Speaker, Trainer
Margo Zomback, Belle (Golden Retriever)
Maureen, Mack (Bernese Mountain Dog)
Lori and Arrow (Weimaraner)
Emeritus Members:
Donna Cosulich, Smokey (Dwarf Rabbit)
Liz Teal, Annie (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel)
TEAM PROFILES
CJ & Chloe - Program Founder
Chloe, a black Labrador Retriever, has been a Delta Society Pet Partners therapy dog since her first birthday in October 2004, and prior to that she attended workshops and Meet the Therapy Pets events as a “puppy in training.” Chloe loves to visit schools and pre-K programs, and her favorite adult facility is the Frawley Unit, a locked psychiatric ward at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, NY. She also visits nursing homes and assisted living homes. Chloe loves other animals, especially her red tabby cat roommate, Pumpkin. Her hobbies are hiking, swimming, and of course (she’s a Lab) eating. CJ is a Delta Society Pet Partners training instructor and the Visiting Pet Program’s coordinator.
CJ and Chloe have moved to Montana and are continuing their therapy work there.
Heidi Henderson, Shasta & Emma
Shasta Delaney, Emma Blu and Karma Delish are the “Snowpawpass girls”. We go between Vermont and New York on a weekly basis and in each state we make lots of people smile through our Pet Partner visits. The girls are all registered with Delta and when the Snowpawpass girls enter a building…heads turn. The girls enjoy snow activities and also lounging by the fireside on the chilly winter nights. They can be found making snow angels or swimming in the cool lakes of Vermont on the hot summer days. When they are not playing, they are sending a message and that message is “We are Love Sponges”.
Annette Diskin & Star
Star came to me on Thanksgiving Eve 2004. He was brought by our adoption counselor, having been in foster care after coming off the track. He was calm, trusting, loving and eager to please. He was also quite shy. We had a lot of work to do since he had no knowledge of stairs or glass doors. He fulfilled a need I had at the time for someone to keep me busy andhelp me heal from a loss. I wasn't even aware that I needed this. I was only surpprised at how much better I felt for having him.It didn't take too long from that point to believe he could help other people.Besides he needed another job where he could feel useful to say nothing of the extra treats he could get! It was then that I discovered the visiting pets program and we became "business partners".
Meet Barbara and Her Therapy Partners
Barbara, who lives in Orange County, New York, has four dogs, a 9-year-old German Shepherd and three Shelties (Shetland Sheepdogs), Spec.’s, Kaila, and Lille.
“Spec.’s and Kaila were my first therapy dogs,” she says. “Because I started Spec.'s late in his years (he is now 15), he had a short career as a therapy dog.He was great at it. If he saw a hand reaching out, he'd slip his head underneath it. After a few pets, he'd swinghis body around to give you a hug. He wasn't afraidof anything or anyone.”
Kaila, who is 7½, has been a therapy dog for almost three years. She is now working in an elementary school in Florida, NY, as a Reading Education Assistance Dog. “Kaila loves to lie on a blanket and fall asleep while the children read to her,” says Barbara. “She is very sensitive to people's feelings.”
Kaila’s hobbies incl
ude lying on the deck, listening to the birds, and watching the woods for deer. She also loves to play fetch with the tennis balls that Barbara hits with a tennis racket.
Lille, pronounced Lilly, is 2½ years old. She visits Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital in New York City as a member of Angels on a Leash, an award-winning Animal Assisted Therapy program.
“Lille is involved with a lot of fundraisers and events to spread the word about Delta Society and Angels on a Leash,” says Barbara. “She has been on The Today Show, in the New York Daily News, and also on Turkish TV. She is my shy, little, elegant girl, and she has a gift. She knows when people need a hug or a cuddle or just some love and she just loves to give it.”
Lille’s favorite activity is watching for deer and chasing them back into the woods. She also loves playing fetch with the tennis ball. “None of my dogs have a favorite toy because they have a treasure chest full of them,” says Barbara. ”They're very good at sharing.”
Meet Kathy Signorile & Carly
Carly’s story begins eleven years ago, in the early days of our Visiting Pet Program, with Kathy’s first two Rottweilers, Max and Dee. In those days, Kathy and her husband, Bill, lived in Rockland County, so it was easy for them to visit all of the nursing homes, schools, and assisted living homes on our calendar.
In 1996, Kathy, Bill, Max, and Dee moved – not just down the block, but all the way to Pennsylvania. Despite the three-hour round trip, Kathy and her dogs continued visiting facilities in Rockland County.
“I would come down in the morning and take Max to one place, go have lunch, and then take Dee on a different visit in the afternoon,” she says.
After Max died in 1997, Dee’s grandson Jordan joined the family. “His long, curly coat sets him apart from other Rottweilers,” says Kathy. “Even people who are afraid of Rottweilers relax around him, asking questions. His coat is a real conversation piece. And yes, he really is a pure-bred Rottie!”
As soon as Jordan passed his therapy dog evaluation, he began taking Max’s place on visits. This year (2006), Jordan won the Sieger Award for Therapy Dog of the Year at the Colonial Rottweiler Club's 50th Anniversary Specialty. Dee receivedthe same award in 2000 at age 10 for her work with our Visiting Pet Program.
After Dee died, Kathy contacted a Rottweiler breeder whose dogs had a strong working-dog background. “I wanted a puppy who would be motivated to do useful work,” she explains, “and I wanted to be sure she would have the right temperament for pet therapy.”
Carly (whose registered name is Braeside’s Odessa) moved to Pennsylvania when she was eight weeks old, and from that day on, Kathy and Bill prepared her for her therapy dog career. She got used to traveling, going new places, interacting with new people, and meeting other dogs. She learned basic obedience commands and was always encouraged with praise (“What a good girl!”) and lots of treats.
“Carly loves to go on long walks, hikes, and car rides,” says Kathy, “and she loves to meet new people. In the summer, swimming is her favorite activity. She is a great retriever and she lovesto swim after her water toy. She swims after our paddle boat whenever I take Jordan out for a ride.”
Carly’s other hobby is food. “Her favorite treat is real meat,” says Kathy, “but she will eat anything including watermelon, and she loves all fruits and veggies. She is well rounded!”
Carly’s favorite trick is bowing, something Bill taught her to do as a puppy. “In the morning he would let her out of her crate,” says Kathy, “and she would put her front paws stretched out in front and her rear end up in the back. Bill would say, ‘Good bow, Carly,’ and she would get a treat.Now she always bows even when we don’t ask her to, and she always gets her treat. Carly has us trained.”
Carly’s best friends are Jordan, now approaching his 9th birthday, the family’s two cats, Katie and Rocket Man, and Bill and Kathy’s daughter’s Siberian Huskies, Meisha and Damien.
Carly has visited many facilities with fellow Visiting Pet Program volunteers. Her favorites are the Nathan Kline Institute’s CREF Unit (a psychiatric facility), Goshen Residential (a juvenile detention facility), and any visit that involves children. “She loves the little ones,” says Kathy.
When she first got interested in Animal Assisted Therapy, Kathy’s goal was to show people what great dogs Rottweilers are. “I wanted my dogs to be ambassadors for a breed that is often misunderstood,” she says. “All four of them have done exactly that. They may have earned show ribbons and obedience titles, but their real careers have been as therapy dogs. I have loved sharing Max, Dee, Jordan, and Carly with the world. This is the most rewarding volunteer activity I can imagine, and I encourage anyone who has a calm, friendly pet to consider doing it. I know that Carly, like my other dogs, will keep getting better as she gets older. We’ll be doing this work for a while yet, and she will be able to brighten a lot of lives. For both of us, that’s the best part.”
Meet Brian & Cleo
Four years ago, Cleo (short for Cleopatra) ran as fast as she could at every opportunity. She had never lived in a house or been treated as a pet. All she knew about life was a cage and a racing track.
But when this elegant, docile Greyhound retired from racing at age three, her life changed. Brian Dwyer adopted Cleo from a track in Connecticut, brought her home to Rockland County, and took her to a basic obedience class with trainer Nancy Strouss at People Training for Dogs in Nyack, NY.
“Cleo had a lot to learn,” says Brian, “but she had the most wonderful disposition. She is the best dog I’ve ever owned. She is extremely tuned in to people’s emotions.”
Her calm personality and empathy make Cleo a perfect therapy dog.
“That was my goal,” says Brian. “I really wanted to do some kind of volunteer activity to help others, and pet therapy seemed like the perfect thing for both of us.”
After joining the Visiting Pet Program, Brian and Cleo spent several months being tutored by program director Dolores Schaub and other members. “We made supervised visits for about three months to a variety of facilities, to find out where Cleo and I would be most comfortable visiting. I knew that if I wasn’t comfortable, my stress would go right down the leash to Cleo. We’ve both come a long way, and I believe I gained 12 pounds with all the lunches we had after visits.
“Now that Cleo understands her new job, she loves it. She’s really thriving. On one visit she came across a woman who was crying and very distressed. She immediately went over to her and laid her head on the woman’s lap. Another day she reacted in the same way to a person who had an abscessed tooth. She responds to feelings of pain and distress, and people respond to her in return.”
Cleo is now six years old. Her favorite activity is running, but napping is a close second. “That’s typical Greyhound behavior,” says Brian.
Her favorite treat is lamb and brown rice, her favorite food is venison, her best friend is a Poodle mix named Skeeter, and her favorite facilities to visit are the Dominican Convent Infirmary in Sparkill, the Frawley Unit at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, Evergreen Assisted Living in Spring Valley, and Elmwood Club, an outpatient psychiatric facility in Valley Cottage.
“She seems to prefer visiting psychiatric patients,” says Brian. “Maybe it’s because she responds so well to despondent people. She really loves everyone. She is gentle, goofy at times, a bit lazy, and something of a chow hound.
“She sleeps in her bed on the floor next to my side of the bed, and she never gets up until I get up, no matter what. She is with me 24/7 and is the best company a man could ever ask for.”
Brian and Cleo have made so many visits (well over 100 already) that they won the HVHS Visiting Pet Program’s “Volunteer Pet/Handler Team of the Year” award for 2005.
“Pet therapy gives one a chance to give something back in life,” says Brian. “There is nothing more elevating than helping others in need. My biggest problem is having to limit the number of visits we make – I’d love to do more, but there just isn’t time. I have formed some great attachments to the people we visit, knowing many by name and of course knowing a lot about their personalities. Missing a monthly visit is distressing to me. I wish we could go to all of the facilities that request pet visits. I think that’s Cleo’s wish, too.”
Meet Virginia & Booka
Booka, a Miniature Dachshund, was two years old when Virginia Montoya and her family adopted him. Virginia was already a member of the Visiting Pet Program with her Himalayan cat, Sam, but she was new to dogs.
“Stacey Samela, a fellow member of our Visiting Pet Program, is a dog trainer,” says Virginia. “She knew I was looking for a little dogs for my kids, and she is involved with Dachshund Rescue. Booka spent a month under observation at Stacey’s house, and she called him a ‘rare find,’ a Doxy with an exceptional temperament. In addition to being the perfect dog for our family, she thought he would be a terrific therapy dog as well.”
Booka moved to his new home five years ago, and he and Virginia were soon taking obedience classes and therapy dog training workshops. In addition to receiving his therapy dog credentials, Booka passed the Temperament Test given by the American Temperament Test Association.
Booka visits a variety of facilities, and he loves them all. He’s always happy to go to work, and he generates smiles and laughter wherever he appears. “He has the best disposition,” says Virginia. “He loves to be petted and loves all the attention he gets, not to mention the treats! Booka is excited to see people wherever he goes.”
One of the smallest members of the program, Booka weighs only 14½ pounds. His hobbies are playing with his Teddy Bear and his football. His favorite foods are cheese and marrow bones. Booka’s best friends are his Doberman Pinscher “cousins” Chelsea and Blitz, who belong to Virginia’s sister, Dolores Schaub.
When it comes to girlfriends, Booka prefers brunette dogs who are at least three times his size.
“Booka is a tough little guy,” says Virginia. “Twice while he was being walked on his leash in our yard, he was attacked by a roaming dog. Both episodes left him so badly injured that he was hospitalized. Despite these attacks, Booka bounced right back. He never lost his enthusiasm for life or his love for people, and he hasn’t developed any fear of other dogs.”
What has Virginia learned from Booka? “Rescuing a homeless dog can change your life,” she says. “We may think we are rescuing them, but in actuality, they are rescuing us.”
Congratulations to Virginia and Booka for sharing their love – and Booka’s wonderful personality – with the world.
Meet Susan & Topsy
Susan Dickens is a professional magician, the kind who pulls rabbits out of hats, but she says the real magician in her life is her 13-year-old Standard Poodle, Topsy. Susan adopted Topsy in May 2000, and Topsy became a Delta Society Pet Partner and a member of the HVHS Visiting Pet Program the following year.
Topsy is Susan’s second therapy dog. Susan joined the HVHS Visiting Pet Program in 1998 with Daphne, a Standard Poodle who was then nine years old. Susan also made visits with Doc, a dwarf rabbit who appeared in her magic shows, between 2000 and 2003.
“Topsy loves people of all ages,” says Susan. “Her favorite facilities include the Jawonio day program, where she has gotten to know the clients. More recently she has been visiting a juvenile detention facility in Orange County, New York, where she loves the attention she receives. Topsy is also very good with small children. She has a great time at Preschool Playhouse and with the nursery kids at Star III.”
Topsy’s favorite foods are treats. “She’s a very picky eater,” says Susan, “but she loves raw hamburger meat and any of our leftovers.”Daphne making a visit (left).
Topsy loves people, especially Susan’s two-year-old grandson, Ben. “Ben feeds her treats and her dried food, one small piece at a time, and he brushes her,” says Susan. “Ben will walk over to Topsy and put his arm around her, and Topsy cuddles right back. She is a devoted, loving dog. She loves getting out and going places, especially up to Bear Mountain. She also loves being with her canine friends.”
The Visiting Pet Program is grateful to Susan and Topsy for their enthusiastic participation. They have brightened hundreds of lives on their many visits.
Meet Marsha & Primo
Primo has been a therapy dog since 2003. He follows in the footsteps of Jasmine, another Portuguese Water Dog, who worked as a therapy dog with Marsha from 1996 to 2002.
Portuguese Water Dogs are unusual, so Primo and his curly coat generate a lot of interest wherever he goes.
“He loves doing water work,” says Marsha. “He loves jumping off the back of the boat to get his favorite dummy, or going after a line on shore and bringing it back to the boat. He loves retrieving any object, especially when someone hides it and he has to go find it. He loves walks in the woods. He loves going with me to dog training lessons and showing younger dogs the ropes. He loves his therapy visits most of all, where people ooh and ahh over him and want to see all his special tricks.”
Primo became a champion when he was two years old. He won “Best Puppy” at his first Portuguese Water Dog National Specialty in 1998, and at his second National, he won Winner’s Dog, Best of Winners, and Award of Merit. He also received a Best of Breed from the classes at another show that same year. He enjoyed the show ring and felt very comfortable there.
Primo also earned a Working Water Dog title, which is awarded by the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America for Water Trials. His full show name is "Ch Robel Sir Galahad, WWD." (Ch stands for Champion and WWD stands for Working Water Dog.)
Primo adores people and has always enjoyed making visits. “He especially likes the Jowonio homes because the people there can’t get enough of him,” says Marsha. “He feels exactly the same way about them. In addition to visiting nursing homes and other facilities over the years, he has been a regular visitor at PS48, an elementary school in Manhattan, where he interacted with a classroom of severely multiply handicapped children for several years. With their teacher’s encouragement and support, the children worked with Primo one-on-one, petting him and talking to him. This is something that can only occur when there is great love, understanding, and trust among the teacher, the child, and the dog. It became significant for all involved as we watched the trust develop. Those visits meant a lot.”
Among dogs, Primo’s best friend in the world was his mentor, Jasmine.
”She raised him and showed him the ropes as he was growing up,” says Marsha. “He was about four years old when she passed away. I attribute his wonderful temperament to her strict discipline in the home. She taught him a lot, including how to play hard.”
Marsha’s day job is as a CAP (Child Assault Prevention) facilitator. She provides programs to schools for children from pre-school through eighth grade, helping empower them to stay safe in dangerous situations. In addition, she occasionally boards dogs in her home, giving Primo new friends to play with, and she assists families in training their dogs using only positive methods. She is the trainer for Coddled Creatures, a pet sitting service in Bergen County, NJ.
Primo has been on a leave of absence for the past few months.
As Marsha explains, “I would like to share that Primo was officially diagnosed on October 2, 2006, with lymphoma. He has been receiving chemotherapy since that time. So far he has handled his treatments well, but I know that each day is a gift, and I treasure every moment that I have with this very special animal who brings me such joy. I am so fortunate to have had Primo to share my life with.”
And so are the hundreds of people whose lives Primo has brightened during his years as a therapy dog.
Meet Risa & Annie
Risa adopted Annie from North Shore Animal League. Annie received her AKC Canine Good Citizen title at six months old. A retriever/husky mix, Annie is a sensitive and intuitive dog who who seems to love everyone she meets. As members of the 'Reading Education Assistance Dogs'®(R.E.A.D.®) program, Annie and Risa visit area schools and libraries working with children to improve their skills under our Paws for Reading program which they helped launch. Risa is a Certified Humane Education Specialist and a member ofThe Association of Professional Humane Educators, The Character Education Partnership, The Humane Society of the United States, Delta Society, R.E.A.D., Best Friends Animal Society, and The New York Horse Council. Risa is also the mother of Abbey, a rescued thoroughbred race horse. In April of2006 Risa was one of the winners in the inaugural North Shore Animal League Pet Owners of the Year Contest. She also received honorable mention in the Rookie Team category of the 2006 and 2007 Delta Society Beyond Limits Awards. Risa is the Humane Education contact for our Program and is available for Humane Education presentations; she is also a licensed R.E.A.D. instructor.
Annie’s favorite facilities to visit are the Esplanade Assisted Living Home in Palisades, NY, and the Star III Intergenerational Day Program in Pomona, NY. “Annie loves people,” says Risa, “and she seems to gravitate toward those who aren’t feeling well or who are feeling sad. This is true at home as well as at the places we visit.” In fact, it was Annie’s interaction with Risa’s mother-in-law, who was recovering from lung cancer surgery, that led Risa to believe that Annie would make a great therapy dog.
“When my mother-in-law was visiting one day, Annie took one look at her and knew something wasn’t right. She carefully sat on the couch next to her and laid her head in my mother-in-law’s lap and just stayed there with her. My mother-in-law’s whole demeanor changed. It was as if Annie just knew she was 
needed.”
Annie also loves toddlers and will crawl on the floor to get near them and look up into their faces. “She is very much a people dog,” says Risa.
Annie was our program’s first Reading Education Assistance Dog®, and as members of the nationwide R.E.A.D.® program, she and Risa have been read to by many children in schools and libraries.
Annie loves food, and she is very polite about asking for treats. She never barks or whines but just sits quietly near you and stares at you as if to say, “Would it be okay if you shared some with me?” Her favorite treats are duck breast and chicken. Her best friend is her roommate Pippin, a Champion Bichon Frise, and she adores her human family. “She greets my two girls each morning with a toy in her mouth,” says Risa, “as though to say, ‘Look what I brought for you!’ When she sees them she wags her tail so hard that her whole body wriggles and she makes a funny sound, almost like a loud cat purring, that we call her happy growl.”
Playing catch in the backyard is Annie’s favorite hobby, and she loves to chase squirrels and play tag with Pippin.
Meet Caroline and Her Host of Pet Partners
Caroline Higgins joined the HVHS Visiting Pet Program in 2000 with her Chihuahua, Stinky, who was then 13 years old. Stinky worked as a therapy dog for three years, frequently visiting Tappan Zee Manor, an assisted living home in Nyack, NY, and the Haverstraw, NY, Head Start program.
“Stinky celebrated his 15th birthday at Tappan Zee Manor,” says Caroline. “They had a party in his honor, and everyone wore party hats and celebrated. If you say that one dog year equals seven human years, he was 105. That really impressed the residents. Stinky especially loved curling up in the arms of elderly men.”
The same year that Stinky became a therapy dog, Caroline adopted a six-week-old Dutch rabbit named Cadbury. Cadbury joined the Visiting Pet Program in 2002 and made visits until he retired last year. Cadbury passed away in November 2006.
“Cadbury and Stinky overlapped a little,” says Caroline. “They took turns visiting the same facilities. They were both great with elderly people and young children.”
Now Caroline’s therapy animal is Dennis, a Guinea pig. “He is four years old,” she says, “and he loves kids. Not many people have seen a Guinea pig up close, so he generates a lot of interest wherever he goes.”
Dennis became a member of the Visiting Pet Program while both Stinky and Cadbury were still active, which makes Caroline the only member of the Visiting Pet Program to work with three different species at the same time.
All of Caroline’s pets have served as demonstration animals in Delta Society Pet Partners training workshops.
Caroline volunteers with Chihuahua Rescue, helping to foster, train, and find homes for Chihuahuas of all ages. At its Volunteer Award Day, Hi-Tor Animal Care Center gave Caroline an award for her dedication to the breed.
Caroline Higgins is our Volunteer of the Month not only for her work with animals but for her quilting talents. Caroline belongs to Heritage Quilters of the Hudson Palisades, and three years ago one of its members, Mary Sexton, gave Caroline some quilt blocks with cats on them.
“She told me to make something for the animals,” says Caroline, “so I designed a quilt with dogs as well as cats.” After 18 months of sewing 450 carefully arranged pieces of fabric, Caroline took her queen-sized quilt to Marie Salwocki in Harwinton, Connecticut, to have it professionally quilted. “It was a 105-mile trip each way,” says Caroline, “but it was worth it. I wanted the quilt to be perfect.”
Caroline titled her masterpiece “What Are Dogs Doing on the Cat Quilt?” and donated it to the Visiting Pet Program for a fund-raising raffle.
Last year it was accepted as an entry in the Northern Star Quilters Guild annual quilt show in Somers, NY. “This was an honor,” says Caroline, “because this is a juried show and it’s highly competitive.”
In October 2006, the quilt was displayed for one month at the Pearl River Library. It has also made guest appearances at Visiting Pet Program workshops and other events where HVHS program volunteers sold quilt raffle tickets.
On March 24, 2007, a single raffle ticket was drawn from the collection of 1500 raffle ticket stubs, and the winner is Jen Hoy of Brooklyn, NY. Altogether, the quilt raised over $1,000 in donations.
“I’ll really miss the quilt,” says Caroline, “but now I can think about making the next one.”
Congratulations to Caroline, Stinky, Cadbury, Dennis for a job well done!
Fran Hellman and her many Pet Partners
Fran Hellman was one of our Visiting Pet Program’s first members. She and her Golden Retriever Toby (Golden Glory's Toby CDX, CGC, TT) visited nursing homes and other facilities through the 1990s.
Toby was my first therapy dog,” says Fran. “He had a wonderful temperament and enjoyed being around people and other animals. The most memorable experience in our therapy times together was when we were at a facility of mature adults and there was a man who really interacted with Toby. He walked with him around the facility’s gymnasium and talked to him while brushing him. Later, the facility staff told me that that man never interacted or talked to anyone and this was the first time they saw him do so. I was happy that we had made a difference.”
Heather (Gosling's Wildest Dream UD, NA, NAJ, CGC, TT), Fran’s second Golden Retriever therapy dog, joined the program in 1995 at the age of two. Fran calls Heather her "therapy dog extraordinaire." She was very sensitive to peoples needs, knew just who to approach and who not to approach, and also just how to do it. “She would lift up a person’s arm with her muzzle to encourage them to pet her,” says Fran.
Heather visited several different facilities, but one of her favorites was Northern Metropolitan Nursing Home in Monsey, NY. “They gave us a nice Certificate of Appreciation which I am proud of,” says Fran.
Heather was also a hit with the Boy Scouts. Unfortunately, when she was eight years old, Heather was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer). After recovery from a leg amputation she returned to pet therapy. “Most memorable for me was when she visited patients with amputations,” says Fran. “Her visits encouraged them to talk about their amputations, which was emotionally therapeutic for them. She was an exemplary therapy dog.”
Katie (Arieh's Goodtime Kiss Me Kate CGC, TT), a Golden Retriever, was born in 1998 and became a registered therapy dog at age three, in 2001.
“Katie really enjoyed going to the Star 2 facility in Nanuet, NY,” says Fran. “She would get excited when we entered the building.Pictures of her interacting with the patientswere on their wall for all to view. Katie’s favorite food is a bagel and her favorite pastime is to swim and go for long walks.”
Sammy (CH. Highland Fairfield Samuel CD, C-CD, AX, AXJ,CGC) is Fran’s smallest therapy dog – he’s a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who became a registered therapy dog last year at age six.
“Because of his size,” says Fran, “making visits with him is different from the Golden Retrievers. He sits on the patients’ laps and I carry him around the facilities instead of walking him. He loves to be pampered, so this works out well for him, too. The patients really seem to like him because he's small, cute, soft, and very gentle in nature. His favorite food is cheese and he likes to go for long walks and do agility training.”
Chief (CH. Goodtime's Gone Country OA, NAJ, CGC, TT), another Golden Retriever, reminds Fran of Heather because he loves to work the crowd.“He lifts people’s arms up to encourage them to pet him just the way Heather used to,” says Fran.“He has a wonderful temperament and does especially well around children, but he’s excellent with all ages.He also likes all creatures.He loves any treat we give him and loves to play fetch. Chief is also a wonderful show dog and performance dog. He has a lot of energy and is lots of fun.”
Chief, now five years old, became a registered therapy dog last year.
Both Sammy and Chief are members of the R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) program and have been read to by children in local libraries.
Special thanks to Fran Hellman and all of her therapy dogs for brightening lives in nursing homes, libraries, and other facilities for the past 12 years.
KC Delfino and her Chocolate Labs Coco and Kala
“We call them the Bears,” says KC, “because, as puppies, they looked exactly like teddy bears. They have lived with us since they were seven weeks old. Coco is eight years old now, and Kala is six. The Bears have the same father but different mothers – and they are just like their mothers! Coco has a non-stop wag and likes to greet everyone, so we call her the Mayor. Kala is more reserved.”
When they joined HVHS Visiting Pets, Coco and Kala were already Delta Pet Partners. “I live in New York City,” says KC, “and I discovered HVHS Visiting Pets in May of 2004 when I was looking for a Delta Society evaluation. That’s the test we have to take every two years to maintain our registration. I signed up and was so impressed by the program and the dedication of its directors that I felt compelled to join the group.”
In addition to making visits to facilities in Rockland County with HVHS Visiting Pets, Coco visits New York Presbyterian Hospital’s Cardiac Care Unit in its “Paws for Patients” program, while Kala participates in New York Presbyterian Hospital’s “Angels on a Leash” program.
“Both dogs work with Occupational and Physical Therapists and their patients,” says KC. “In addition, they are both Reading Education Assistance Dogs. Kids in libraries in Rockland County read out loud to them when we make R.E.A.D. visits with HVHS Visiting Pets, and they are also involved with R.E.A.D. programs in New York City.”
The Bears’ best friend is KC’s teenage daughter, Morgan. “They sleep in her room and are her special wake-up call in the morning,” says KC. “The Bears love to run and play with each other, especially in Central Park. Coco loves to retrieve balls, which she’ll do for hours. Kala prefers to chase sticks, but she gives up after a while, preferring to lie on her back and watch the clouds go by. Both love to swim and look very funny trying to do so in the puddles on New York City sidewalks. They do more serious swimming on visits to Connecticut.”
The Bears come from Vermont, and KC says you can see that influence in their behavior, which changes with the weather. “When it’s cold,” she says, “they run and play all day, but when summer comes, they like to just relax beneath a shade tree.”
Coco and Kala have visited people in all age groups, from the very young to the very old. At New York Presbyterian Hospital, they participate in the Paws for Patients “Dogs on Call” or DOC program, which manages special visit requests.
“As much as we love our city activities,” says KC, “the Bears and I really wish that we lived closer to HVHS Visiting Pets so that we could do more with the program!”