Therapy dog program restarts
The young patient didn’t speak for days. But when Maggie, a visiting Golden Retriever, greeted the stuffed dog clutched in her arms, she burst out laughing and healing began. Providence Willamette Falls had a thriving therapy dog program until COVID-19 made it impossible for volunteers to enter the facility.
Now, with a grant from the Chamberlain Foundation, two volunteers, Pam and Tony Helbling, are helping to re-build it. The grant will pay for training, tests and supplies for new dogs and their handlers.
“It’s a simple way to give back,” said Pam. “Whether it’s a teenager who’s having challenges or someone who’s been through a tough surgery, it’s so rewarding to see the dogs help them.”
