Once just a happy-go-lucky puppy (as first featured on Seattle RUFFined in 2017), Lily Dore grew up to be a happy, healthy therapy dog bringing smiles and stress relief to lucky people across Seattle. Now 8 years old, Lily and her owner spread joy and happiness wherever they go.
Lily and her many therapy dog buddies regularly visit schools, hospitals, treatment centers, businesses and assisted living centers with one goal: to provide a little ray of sunshine to those they visit.
Each therapy dog has completed training and certification through one of several certifying organizations that ensure the dog will happily carry out its one important function – get petted by those they visit. Any dog breed can learn to be a therapy dog. The one common attribute is their desire to be petted!
At a recent visit to Seattle University, Lily, Pearl and Betty White spent an hour sharing their unique form of therapy with students who were stressed due to the elections and their mid-terms. Common comments were, “This is the best part of this week!” The dogs that are certified have passed observations, are up-to-date on their vaccinations, and their handlers have all passed background checks in order to be certified.
All of the dogs at the Seattle U visit were part of a local College Dogs group that helps dog handlers connect with organizations that want to request a visit. “We always welcome new dogs and their owners to College Dogs,” said Lily’s owner, Wendy Dore. “More and more groups are requesting visits and since we are an all-volunteer group, we sometimes don’t have enough handler/dog teams available to meet the demand. We send each request to our current list of about 100 dogs, and the owners contact the organization if they are willing and available.” There is no cost to the requesting organization for a visit.
How does one get a dog certified? Interested owners can visit www.collegedogs.org and click on the appropriate link to connect with training/certifying information.
Therapy dogs visit a wide variety of locations, spreading joy in the form of happy tails. According to verywellmind.com, and Psychiatry.org, research shows that petting a dog can help both mental/emotional health and improve physical health for the people the dogs visit. Around greater Seattle, the dogs are often invited to schools (all ages), colleges, businesses, assisted living centers, nursing homes, mental health facilities and other places where people gather. Lily completed an extra review process and regularly visits patients at Seattle Children’s. The dogs are often called to support people in a crisis situation, as well as to provide regular stress relief.
It’s exciting to see that one of Seattle RUFFined’s earliest featured puppies has grown into a contributing member of her community.
All dogs who are willing to handle lots of pets from strangers are welcome to learn to be therapy dogs. It’s one of those community-building activities that is truly good for all.
Then & Now RUFFined Spotlight: Lily the Goldendoodle Therapy Dog
The RUFFined Spotlight is a weekly profile of local pets loving life in the PNW. To nominate a pet, email hello@SeattleRefined.com
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