Our first Therapy Dog interview with Jack McCoy

One of our purposes at JOY biscuits is to increase awareness of therapy and service dog programs.  

In this interview, Alison Etcheverry, a third grade teacher at Dianne Feinstein Elementary in San Francisco, talks about her therapy dog, Jack McCoy.

Jack is an active therapy dog for the San Francisco SPCA's Animal Assisted Therapy Program.  He's officially part of their "Puppy Dog Tales" program in select SF public schools.  This is the equivalent to being an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts!

1. When did you get Jack?  What’s the story behind his name?

I got Jack when he was 4 and a half months old.  He's from West Oakland, CA.

His full name is Jack McCoy.  He was named after the Sam Waterston character from Law & Order.  He stands for justice.  Plus, just like on the show, Jack is a real ladies man, has an extensive argyle sweater collection, and has the charming "salt and pepper" thing going on!

2. How did you know he would be a great therapy dog?

I knew right away!  I took him home the first day of summer vacation, so I spent the whole summer socializing him.  He was so good with kids in the neighborhood, in the park, wherever we went.  I knew right away I wanted to be able to bring him to my classroom.

3. What organization did you go through?  What was that process like?

We went through the SF SPCA Animal Assisted Therapy Program (AAT).  We had already done all the puppy training, then he had to pass a "temperament" exam.  Next, we did a 6-week course to qualify to be in the AAT program.  Finally, in order to qualify to come to schools, he had to pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen exam and do another training to become part of the "Puppy Dog Tales" program.  (He has all the official documents to prove it!)

4. Can you describe what type of therapy work you did together?  What type of facilities/organizations did you go to?

Jack has been a therapy dog for over 6 years now.  We started by going to rest homes/memory centers.  We visited several psychiatric units-UCSF, SF General and most often, the VA.  We also visited ICU's, especially for pediatrics.  Now, our only "official" visit is to Dianne Feinstein Elementary School every Friday.

5. What is your most vivid or favorite memory of how Jack interacts with his “clients”?

I've had a number of really amazing interactions, but a few really stand out.  The first was several years ago, at the Langley Porter Psychiatric unit.  One young man who didn't really engage with the group, lit up when Jack arrived.  When our visit was up, the guy got tears in his eyes and said, "I love Jack, please don't go."  I found out later from the nurse that that was the first time he'd come out of his shell.  

Another more recent incident was Jack's interactions with a kiddo in the Special Day class.  A few months ago, I took Jack outside to go potty.  I noticed a little boy, new to our school, out front.  I could tell that he was agitated and looked like he might run away.  I started talking to him, and eventually, I convinced him to "show Jack his desk," and got him to come back inside, holding Jack's leash.  We've done that a few times now.  But the biggest changes are the kids at the beginning of the year who are "terrified" of Jack, and by the end, can't stay away from him.  He is a true healer!!

6. If you could give advice to someone who is thinking about making their dog a therapy dog, what would you tell them?

I think it is one of the most wonderful and rewarding things in my life!  I would say, although it is a lot of work, it's totally worth it!  It takes a lot of patience, but if you pay attention to your dog, they will show you the way.  I read something once that really encapsulated what it's all about: "Dogs are the bridge between children and adults."  Children really, really, really identify with him.  Jack helps me connect with my students in a deeper and more profound way, beyond words.  He's like a magician!  Kids will do stuff for/because of him that just wouldn't happen otherwise.  One last story:  I left Jack with another teacher a year or two ago.  She had a kid who would only sit still for minutes at a time.  She told me that every time the boy got up she'd say "Jack needs you to sit down & do your work," and he did it!!  She said he did more work that day than any other!

Jack is an Italian Greyhound and is 8 years old.  His favorite activity is running through the grass and chasing his red ball!

Thank you for reading!  

transition...

well well well.  you may be wondering why i haven't posted in so long?!

a few months after champ passed away, we bought a cycling tour company, Outfitter Bicycle Tours, then we adopted eddy, and later that year we had a baby!!  2011 was definitely a year of new beginnings...2012 was definitely a year of transition.  now that we're halfway through 2013, i am finding myself in yet another transitional space.  

it has been over 6 months since i have baked JOY biscuits.  but i want you to know that i WILL be baking again soon! 

several months ago i received a weekly smile email from one of my favorite doggie publications the BARK.  here is what i found when i opened the email:

What’s your dog’s name and age? Emmy, 12 years old.
What was your dog doing when you took this photo? Torturing me with her sweetness while she was waiting patiently for the door to be opened.


Where/how did you find your dog? She was relinquished by her first family after being hit by a car. We were the emergency foster family and the rest is history...




What makes your dog smile? Seeing us after we've been gone, even if it's to get the mail or use the bathroom. Her tail goes around in a huge circle.



Do you and your dog have similar personalities or temperaments? We can get into a pretty dangerous groove of lying around together; I never napped until I had my first greyhound!


Do you do any volunteer work with your dog or on behalf of other companion animals? Emmy has worked at Alzheimer's, mental health and convalescent facilities. She will hop right up on the bed if invited.


Do you and your dog participate in any canine sports? Emmy was quite a successful racer. Now that she's retired, she prefers to run on the beach without worrying about winning.

What do you cherish most about your dog? Feeling her breath on me while she's sleeping, she's just such pure, innocent goodness...

of course, the first thing that caught my eye was that emmy is a greyhound.  when i continued reading i saw that she is ALSO a THERAPY DOG!  what a sweetie.  i love how the BARK features dogs of all breeds and ages.  if you ever want to submit a photo of your smiling furry friend to them, you can!  click here for more info.    thank you for reading!

JOY biscuits loves therapy dogs and service dogs

one of our missions at JOY biscuits is to increase awareness of therapy and service dog programs. we all know that dogs are wonderful companions and that one's quality of life is greatly increased when one has a furry friend in their life, however the distinction between a therapy dog and a service dog is important.

generally speaking, both types of dogs have similar outcomes: to increase quality of life, increase independence, and ultimately enable a person to participate more in their daily activities.

so what exactly is the difference between a service dog and a therapy dog??

service dogs are specifically trained to assist in meeting the needs of a person with a disability who may have limitations related to mobility and/or mental health. service dogs are legally defined by the americans with disabilities act of 1990 and are protected by federal laws that enable them to accompany their owners into public places where dogs-as-pets are not allowed. i've seen service dogs do amazing things like open doors, dial 911, pick up small pills off the ground with their teeth, and turn lights on and off. these dogs have a very important job, no doubt.

service dogs are also known as guide dogs, skilled companions, and hearing dogs. with organizations like CCI (canine companions for independence), and other service dog programs, people with disabilities have more access to participating in their communities, which is something that JOY biscuits cares very deeply about.

one thing to remember though (as it was difficult for me to learn how to do this), is that these dogs have a job and that they aren't necessarily "pets." so talk to the owner first (make eye contact with the owner, not the dog-i know, hard to do!) and ask them if it's OK to greet the dog before assuming that you can. if it is ok, then the owner can "release" the dog from their work before you pet them. if it's not OK, simply talk to the owner (mention what a beautiful day it is!) or just walk away. in either case, all parties will be enlightened and the service dog and owner will appreciate your mindful actions. you will be able to recognize a service dog by a vest or a badge that indicates that it is indeed a service dog. here are some pictures of service dogs in action!

a therapy dog, is exactly what it sounds like. a dog that provides a therapeutic experience to those who interact with it. geez, given that definition all dogs could be therapy dogs, right?! nope. therapy dogs must go through a vet check, discipline/obedience course and evaluation, and be affiliated with a group that organizes visits to hospitals, clinics, and facilities. in fact, most domesticated pets can become a therapy animal, and organizations like furry friends pet assisted therapy services assist with this process. here are some touching stories of strays becoming therapy dogs.

i have seen therapy dogs work in multiple ways. some examples include: having the client brush the dog to increase their strength and range of motion in their arms; having the client direct the dog to do certain tricks, thus having the client work on giving commands and praise when executed well; and lastly having the client walk the dog a few feet initially and gradually increase the distance over time, thus working on strength and endurance. here are some pictures of therapy dogs in action!

ok, 2 more items worth mentioning: 1) champ, the inspiration behind JOY biscuits, is on his way to becoming a certified therapy dog. in fact, i made that one of our new year's resolutions. now i just need to make the time to do it! 2) there is yet another article worth mentioning in the august/september issue of animal wellness. this article illustrates a good picture of what to consider when getting a dog for someone with a disability (and not necessarily a service dog), and what breeds are good for certain purposes. it also mentions some amazing jobs of what different types of service dogs can do, like detecting when a person with type 1 diabetes has a severely low blood sugar level by smelling their breath, and then somehow indicating that the person needs to drink juice or eat. what the article doesn't mention is where to go to find a service dog. i would recommend CCI, but also know that there are smaller organizations that train and provide service dogs. a lot of figuring out where to go for a service dog depends on one's location and what feels like a good fit with one's needs.

i hope this post clearly distinguishes the differences between service and therapy dogs. if you've made it this far to the end of the post, i sincerely thank you for reading, as this means a lot to JOY biscuits.