Each month, residents of The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) look forward to a special visit from furry friends with wagging tails through Love on a Leash. This nonprofit organization provides opportunities for volunteer teams to engage in pet therapy. Typically, three or four volunteer handlers and their therapy dogs spend time with OAW Assisted Living and Memory Support residents, offering moments of happiness and comfort.
During each visit to the Plano senior living community, the therapy dogs make their way from resident to resident as they gather in the living room, giving and receiving love through playful interactions. Many of the same dogs return to OAW each month, helping build a sense of familiarity that residents appreciate.
Therapy Pets are different from Service Dogs and Emotional Support Animals because they are personal pets who work with their owner to provide stress relief to others. To become certified by Love on a Leash, each pet therapy team must pass a control evaluation and complete a minimum of 10 supervised, one-hour visits.
For program participants, these visits offer more than just a fun activity. OAW teammates have reported that residents become more alert and responsive as soon as the therapy dogs arrive.
“One of the most common things I notice after these visits is residents reminiscing together about the dogs they had growing up. While some may feel a bit sad thinking about those memories, what really stands out are the smiles and laughter,” shared Hannah McKnight, OAW Assisted Living Community Life Coordinator.
A resident’s love for dogs is evident by the way they light up when they see them, and it is a great reminder of how much joy these visits bring. Pet therapy has long been known to support emotional well-being, particularly for those living with dementia, and these visits are a simple way to bring comfort and happiness into daily community life. In many cases, just one visit from a therapy dog can completely brighten someone’s day.
By Amee McGough
