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section below, Paws, Hand and Heart, explains who our canines are, the job they do with their handlers, and the the kinds of people they help.
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If you are a facility considering adding a canine-assisted therapy program and would like to know more about
PFH protocols and regulations, please simply click here for an informational packet that includes a Site Affiliation Application. What makes the dogs of Paws for Healing special?  Paw: That Special CanineThey are family pets that have been qualified to do a very important job in health care facilities. Together with their handlers, trained therapy canines help to alleviate depression, promote confidence, motivate patients in physical therapy and provide a much needed element in the healing process of unconditional love. Dogs and handlers are screened, evaluated, and trained. After successfully fulfilling the Paws for Healing requirements, they become a certified canine assisted therapy team and are then assigned to an established program in one of the participating Napa Valley-area health care facilities. We would love to have you join us as a volunteer. Simply click here to access the necessary application packet, complete and submit the applications for consideration.  Hand: Making It Happen Dedicated volunteers and their canines visit people throughout the San Francisco North Bay area. Some go to  rehabilitation units
where their dogs fetch or respond to commands from patients who are recovering from traumatic illness or accidents. Many take
their dogs to socialize with and provide emotional comfort to people convalescing or living in residential settings, or to staff
and family members charged with patient cars. Others volunteer in classrooms, Alzheimer's respite centers, mental health facilities,
oncology, pediatric, and post surgical units. What teams bring is the opportunity to hope, to love, and to accept, and that is their
contribution to the healing process.At our PFH training, the staff is always reminding people to watch for signs of burnout in their canines. Now, it is time for a few tips on keeping the two-legged teammates fresh. Take a moment to read over our article "Keeping Energized and Enthusiastic for Canine-Assisted Therapy Work". We would love to have you join us as a volunteer. Simply click here to access the necessary application packet, complete and submit the applications for consideration.  Heart: Everyone has One Canine therapists have the uncanny ability to bring out the best in people, even those who are emotionally or physically bruised by their environment or who struggle with physical, emotional or mental disabilities. For them, the dogs do a remarkable job in building confidence, teaching nurturing skills, and providing the opportunity for feeling worthy of love. For others, these special therapists engender greater compassion and respect for those struggling with their differences. Canine eyes provide a new perspective on what people really are--prospects for play, for love, and a couple treats. The effect of animals on human health has been related in anecdotes for centuries, (see our article "Children, Play and Dogs") and today's acceptance of dogs in therapeutic roles owes much to several decades of respected scientific research. Paws for Healing and its many volunteers are grateful to participate in this newly sanctioned and rewarding field. While most PFH teams visit hospitals and health care facilities, there also is a tremendous need for volunteers and programs for children, adolescents, and adults is special education and mental health settings. You can make it possible to reach more of these deserving people by volunteering with or without a dog, or by making a donation to support the work of our volunteer teams. We would love to have you join us as a volunteer. Simply click here to access the necessary application packet, complete and submit the applications for consideration. Educational Programs Community Members and Organizations If you belong to a service organization in the Napa, Solano, Sonoma or Marin areas, consider inviting one of teams to your meetings. Our volunteers provide canine-assisted therapy at no cost to the facilities or individuals they visit. And, while we have programs that attend to the needs of children, our volunteers also visit veterans, the elderly, people with dementia, hospice patients, and mental health clients in a variety of venues. We would love to tell you some of our stories about PFH canines who have been able to touch the lives of people isolated by their disabilities or illness. Parents' groups, teachers and churches may also contact us for speakers. One of our goals is to help people understand the powerful role animals can play in our families, schools and society. We also have mini "dog talk" presentations for children (and adults) about how to safely interact with canines by "speaking their language." Medical and Mental Health Professionals PFH can tailor a presentation to your staff members that can also be used for CEU's. Topics include canine interventions for
The R.E.A.D. program is being successfully used by libraries and schools to boost self confidence and reading abilities. Research also shows how using dogs in the classroom promotes crucial social skills that children use to develop healthy play and work behaviors they can use as adults. Presentations can be used for CEU credits and include how to incorporate canines in classrooms for
Educational Materials Since 1998, PFH has continued to research the use of canines in medical and educational environments. The following informational packets are based on that research as well as on our therapy teams' experiences. The packets may be downloaded at no charge. However, we do ask that you honor the copyright information and credit PFH for its work. The packets may be used by individuals for internal purposes at their facility, but MAY NOT be used for resale or duplication for profit without written permission from Paws for Healing, Inc. Please check back for more packets that will be available in 2008. Packets: General Overview of Health Care and Mental Health Goals: This packet describes the fundamental goals for patients and clients in health care or mental health settings. This introductory material is suitable for anyone wanting to know more about how people in these settings can benefit from CAT. Health Care I: This packet has generalized information and tips for dealing with patients in health care. They are suitable for anyone who wants to know more about how canines can be used for interventions with physically handicapped adults. Populations included in this packet are
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