Therapy Dogs Today: Their Gifts, Our Obligation

by Kris Butler

As more and more people adjust to the physical and emotional challenges of today's chaotic world, therapy dogs are proving their worth in diverse settings. No one knows this better than Kris Butler. Her workshops integrate the science of human health and education with the magic of hands-on interactions with appropriate dogs to teach health care providers, educators, volunteers, assessors, and dog trainers across the United States the most effective and ethical ways to include dogs in settings that enhance human healing, learning and self-awareness. At last she's written a book in which she explores the complex professional and ethical issues that surround the environments in which therapy dogs work and volunteer. Therapy Dogs Their Gifts, Our Obligation is an important book for anyone who handles, assesses, or trains visiting therapy dogs and it is essential for professional people who oversee therapy dog programs or include their own dogs in the their workplaces. The book includes a foreword by Maureen Fredrickson.

Genres: Animals, Dogs

88 pages, Paperback

First published March 20, 2004

About the author

Romance author Kris Butler can be found HERE

Reviews

[Moira Arzich · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone considering becoming a Therapy Dog Team

Having trained 3 dogs to work in therapeutic settings since 1993, I constantly wonder how can I help improve a clients experience. I’m sure this has more to do with my working in the education field at both elementary and secondary settings both of which were full inclusion settings. This text educates the reader that therapy work should be much more than a visit. Teams should work with outcomes to support clients in their needs by becoming collaborative with setting providers. I look forward to my own personal growth, and the growth of my therapy dog club in setting up training for our members.

[Carol D · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't say that I agreed with everything that Ms. Butler says about dog therapy. There were a couple of times that she contradicted herself in what she said. But overall the book is an important read for anyone who is a professional handler or is wanting to become a therapy dog handler. I did agree when she said that so many individuals join an organization to just have the bragging rights to say that their dog is a therapy dog. How sad is that, but unfortunately it is also very true. It is important that those of us in this rewarding field make sure that we encourage the individuals who want to help others through their dogs, preparing them for the journey, through educating and training opportunities.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful little book. It is only 82 pages and an easy read for an afternoon. You can feel Kris Butler's heart and joy in what she does through out the pages of this book.

It is a great over all intro book to Therapy dogs or if you just want to learn more about what that actually means to a handler and their dogs.

It is so worth an afternoon and a cup tea to sit and read this!