Bemidji-area Therapy Dogs and Reading Canines

Great article about our local therapy dog program, with a special focus on hospital dog Banjo! Go to link below and scroll to page 17!

inBemidji Spring 2024 inBemidji Magazine Spring 2024

Therapy Dogs in Michigan are on the job, doing grief counselling at Michigan State University

Comfort dogs visit Michigan campus after shooting The four-legged friends met with students in the aftermath of a shooting that left three dead.

Its pediatric day at Sanford Hospital’s Joe Lueken Cancer Center!

In addition to receiving infusions for their cancer treatments, patients also received infusions of love and cuddles from our kind and helpful team of “Dogters” on duty!

Many thanks to
Dr. Skye, Dr. Whisper,
Dr. Hero, Dr. Peanut,
Dr. DeeDee, and Dr. Tango!

Blind Therapy Dog Brings Joy to Assisted-Living Residents Before the United States was in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic, an assisted living home in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, received regular visits from therapy

Calling Dr. Skye to Cardiology! Dr. Hero, please report to the pediatric nurses station! Dr. ChickaDee, you are needed in Rehab ! Time for patient rounds on the floors of Sanford Hospital, and these caring DOGtors were on the job this afternoon! Their advice: spread Holiday cheer, not germs!

Day three of college therapy sessions! Today we are at Northwest Technical College visiting with students between their finals. And a Therapy Donkey has joined us, along with adoptable cats from Great River Rescue! If you are a student in need of a study break, come on down!

Day two of finals-week therapy dog sessions for college students! This afternoon we were stationed in the library lobby at Bemidji State University, with numerous dogs available to “check out” for a warm and fuzzy study break! Lots of cuddles all aroun

Here's an online newspaper article about our Destress With Pets visit at Bemidji State University on Tues. Dec. 6. https://www.bemidjipioneer.com/news/local/cleo-the-donkey-makes-bemidji-state-de-stress-with-pets-debut?fbclid=IwAR3vjnHeM-gMXy0WR5Sa3GNDLzRbyK8f1zW0hpmXAqIg9MPFl5HagtUqRfc

Cleo the donkey makes Bemidji State De-Stress with Pets debut Among the usual array of therapy dogs from the Paul Bunyan Dog Training Association along with dogs and cats from Great River Rescue, miniature donkey and therapy animal “Cleo” proved to be stubborn as passersby tried coaxing her with food and pulling her into the Upper Hobson Memorial Union whe...

On Memorial Day, here is an honor for the ultimate Therapy Dog!

Judy, a purebred pointer, was the mascot of several ships in the Pacific, and was captured by the Japanese in 1942 and taken to a prison camp. There she met Aircraftsman Frank Williams, who shared his small portion of rice with her.
Judy raised morale in the POW camp, and also barked when poisonous snakes, crocodiles or even tigers approached the prisoners. When the prisoners were shipped back to Singapore, she was smuggled out in a rice sack, never whimpering or betraying her presence to the guards.
The next day, that ship was torpedoed. Williams pushed Judy out of a porthole in an attempt to save her life, even though there was a 15-foot drop to the sea. He made his own escape from the ship, but was then recaptured and sent to a new POW camp.
He didn't know if Judy had survived, but soon he began hearing stories about a dog helping drowning men reach pieces of debris after the shipwreck. And when Williams arrived at the new camp, he said: "I couldn’t believe my eyes! As I walked through the gate, a scraggly dog hit me square between the shoulders and knocked me over. I’d never been so glad to see the old girl!"
They spent a year together at that camp in Sumatra. "Judy saved my life in so many ways," said Williams. "But the greatest of all was giving me a reason to live. All I had to do was look into those weary, bloodshot eyes and ask myself: 'What would happen to her if I died?' I had to keep going."
Once hostilities ceased, Judy was then smuggled aboard a troopship heading back to Liverpool. In England, she was awarded the Dickin Medal (the "Victoria Cross" for animals) in May 1946. Her citation reads: "For magnificent courage and endurance in Japanese prison camps, which helped to maintain morale among her fellow prisoners, and also for saving many lives through her intelligence and watchfulness".
At the same time, Frank Williams was awarded the PDSA's White Cross of St. Giles for his devotion to Judy. Frank and Judy spent a year after the war visiting the relatives of English POWs who had not survived, and Frank said that Judy "always provided a comforting presence to the families."
When Judy finally died at the age of 13, Frank spent two months building a granite and marble memorial in her memory, which included a plaque describing her life story.

Here's a great DOGumentary about the benefits of a reading dog.....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8hB0CKiHT0

Cold Nose, Warm Heart - A DOGumentary Southwest Elementary has a program called S.W.T.V. which is a before and after school activity that allows students to have experiences in writing, filming, ...

Therapy dogs Shiloh and DeeDee visited several floors of Sanford Bemidji Hospital today, greeting staff and providing a calming break from the busy hospital routine. It was a momentous day for Shiloh, who has been a Therapy Dog at the hospital for seven years now, and is retiring as a hospital dog as of today. He loves the work alongside his dad Ethan Larson, but at age 12 his energy levels for visits have declined. He said touching goodbyes to various longtime staff he has befriended over the years! Good job Shiloh, you’ve been the bestest boy!

Dear Norway the Black Lab, a long-time Bemidji AmbassaDog and Bemidji-area Therapy Dog, has been immortalized by the creation of a new sculpture on the Bemidji Sculpture Walk! You will see him on the northwest corner of Beltrami Ave and 4th Street, diagonally across from the “myBemidji” shop owned by his dad Kevin. All hail Norway, who was the Bestest Boy!

The fourth artist in our profiles is Tim Nelsen of Bemidji. Tim is a metal artist specializing in recycled metal sculptures. He makes life-like artwork of animals, fish, musical instruments, robots and wall art. He exhibits across Minnesota and other Midwest states. To see more of Tim's work, visit: https://www.nelsenstudios.com/

Dogs help to cope in crisis

https://www.npr.org/2022/03/12/1085971965/power-of-the-dog-ukraine-war-pets-russia?fbclid=IwAR1UnrwwNJmeckyNsBvvrAKq1g9q4eC4E6qMDNQlcVaczw9y5oNvc0PgGbw

The power of the dog and how pets are helping Ukrainians cope with war Hundreds of thousands of pets are estimated to have crossed into countries neighboring Ukraine since the war began.

Yes, some canine cuddling may be just what the doctor ordered!

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/09/health/therapy-dogs-hospitals-wellness/index.html?fbclid=IwAR0dtL-Ur-Pxd8psNYGBvUHo39sN4laNIb5KOu64cQrUqmsMAX2nf0JznZI

Affection from a dog really is medicinal, according to a new study Dog lovers know that a little time with a wagging tail can make all the difference -- and science backs it up.

Dogs and kids—always a good mix!

'Olaf' is playing an important role at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital The 5-year-old Labrador helps ease anxiety for children undergoing treatment and recovering.

I found this article interesting.

Maura, an aspiring therapy dog, shows the limitless nature of agriculture education Hillsboro Public Schools has a new student. Sort of. The school's ag program's small animal care class is teaching Maura, a 4-month-old golden retriever, to be a therapy dog.

www.startribune.com/minnesotas-courthouse-dogs-help-soothe-vulnerable-victims/600138143/

Minnesota's 'courthouse dogs' help soothe vulnerable victims Three Minnesota county attorney's offices employ dogs trained to read cues to ease stress.

These are the kinds of angels we need in our lives!

https://mypositiveoutlooks.com/nurse-adopts-elderly-rehab-patient-dog/?fbclid=IwAR0AzZKZaK9zqguR5LuQ4w4jE5HyORxFM7aTm8WnWK8qZ6uarlVbCHK8agE

Nurse adopts elderly rehab patient's dog so he can visit his owner and help him get better A kind nurse adopted a rehab patient's senior dog and took him to work so that he can be with his owner and help him recover.

https://www.bemidjipioneer.com/news/education/7312930-Bemidji-State-students-de-stress-with-pets-ahead-of-finals-week?fbclid=IwAR305FUkHJvQ2JIVhg5jRvtu8mI1LQxVlBuEZ5Q7ekHHbwK7_h2sOCVYPeM

Bemidji State students de-stress with pets ahead of finals week | Bemidji Pioneer Cordial canines and friendly felines were on full display as Bemidji State students sought to relieve some stress prior to finals coming up this week.

Saw this article..thought I would share.

Samson The Therapy Dog Comforts Overworked Hawaii Healthcare Heroes "It's been such a difficult time for them. We're really happy to be able to support the important work that they do."

Another event DURING Finals Week at BSU that the Therapy Dogs are participating in, is the Caring Campus Canines visit at the A.C. Clark Library on Tuesday, Dec. 14 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. A snuggle from a dog may make the hectic cramming for exams a little easier! Also, employees can receive credit towards a wellness certificate for attending.

The Therapy Dogs with Paul Bunyan Dog Training Association will be participating in BSU's Destress With Pets event on Tuesday Dec. 7 from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. in the Beaux Arts Ballroom. If you know any students in need of some pet RX before finals week, let them know about this fun outlet! It is sponsored by Great River Rescue, PBDTA, BSU Lifestyle Educators, BSU Active Minds, and Student Center for Health and Counseling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xb4b_B8F1s

Shel and Rex The benefits of human interaction with pets are well documented, providing mood boosting effects by reducing, anxiety, stress, and depression. LindenGrove ...

College students who took advantage of therapy dog sessions during finals week were found to be calmer and more focused in their studies. Therapy dogs for the win! Did you know that we provide this for local college students?

Study Shows That Petting a Dog Can Have Long-Lasting Health Benefits Pet dogs and be healthier? Sign us up!