Ashley, Portrait of a Therapy Dog
Ashley was sitting behind bars at a local dog shelter in Oregon where her future friend from her future forever-
home spotted her. Ashley was most likely given to the shelter because she is not breed standard, but what
she lacks in stature, she more than makes up for in patience and love. Ashley's new owner, Jodi, took the
small rescued Rottweiler to be evaluated as a therapy dog. Jodi witnessed Ashley’s amazing temperamental
qualities that would ultimately fulfill Ashley's destiny as a useful working dog.
A good therapy dog is a social animal and the visits by the dog should be enjoyed by both the dog and the
participants. Therapy dogs can do wonders for the people they visit. These visits can contribute to:
- increased smiles and laughter making any day happier
- providing social stimulation to those who might be inclined only to internalize emotions and/or tend to
shy away from interaction with other people
- increased physical movement with known health benefits
- reduced blood pressure (almost as good as the touch of another human being)
- easing anxiety (a dog's love is unconditional and it will never judge anyone)
- easing loneliness, even without a word having to be said
A visit from a therapy dog can offer entertainment and a nice variation in routine for those who are
institutionalized or home-bound. People naturally become more active around dogs, and studies have shown
that just petting an animal can help reduce a person's blood pressure as well as encourage greater range of
movement such as the use of hands, arms, stretching, and turning. The goal of therapy dog programs is to
facilitate health-giving interaction between the dog and the people the dog is visiting.
Ashley brings delight to the residents of an assisted living facility every week. The moment the extraordinary
Rottweiler walks into the room she elicits smiles of welcome from residents greeting Ashley like a long lost
friend. She entertains her cheerfully captive audience with feats of ball-throwing. Throw the ball at Ashley and
she'll throw it right back! She even works
one-on-one therapy magic. Every visit Ashley quietly sits next to a wheelchair-bound woman, letting the
woman pet her, no words spoken or needed.
Ashley is doing the job she enjoys and apparently was made for, thanks to the dog shelter putting her in the
capable and caring hands of someone who saw her true potential.
