News Release

June 27, 2007
Contact: Susan Carney
Manager of Behavior and Training
(603) 772-2921 ext. 112

Stratham, NH
For Immediate Release

Therapy Dog Training for the Novice Dog & Owner

Two Day Workshop with Gina Hayes

Stratham, NH - The New Hampshire SPCA is offering Therapy Dog Training for owners, professionals and anyone interested in using their dog in therapeutic visits to nursing homes, schools, hospitals or any healthcare agency that allows therapy animals. The workshop will be held at the NHSPCA's Learning Center for Pets and People on July 21 and 22 from 10:00 AM-4:00 PM. This is a two day workshop with testing and certification offered on the second day. The cost for the program is $150.00 per person/dog team. Previously approved dogs are welcome and space is limited.

Using Therapy Dog International testing requirements participants will learn how to handle a dog in and around the healthcare environment and equipment (i.e. wheelchairs, walkers, beds, etc).

The primary objective of the TDI dog and handler is to provide comfort and companionship by sharing the dog with the patients in hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions and wherever else the therapy dog is needed. This is done in a way that increases emotional well being, promotes healing and improves the quality of life for the people being visited and the staff that cares for them.

Therapy Dogs International, Inc. (TDI) is a volunteer organization dedicated to regulating, testing and registration of therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers. Further information is available at www.tdi-dogs.org.

The workshop's presenter, Gina Hayes, is the owner and head trainer of Just Dogs Training Center in Dennisport, MA. Gina has been training dogs professionally for 21 years and has been called a "real dog whisperer".

The New Hampshire SPCA is a community resource center that provides animal adoption, education, investigation and sheltering services in a professional and compassionate way. The Adoption Center is open from 11 am - 4pm on Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11 am - 7pm on Tuesday and Thursday, and closed on Wednesday. For more information about the NHSPCA, visit www.nhspca.org.

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