Greetings and a tail wag from Ambler, Pennsylvania! It’s my pleasure to introduce myself and my wonderful Lassie-wannabe pet therapy dog, Demetra. She is a 12-year-old rough collie.

I first found out about Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD) after I retired in 2021. After a long (and sometimes exhausting!) career as an advertising copywriter, I was searching to do something that would give me personal gratification and help others at the same time. I had a few vague ideas what I wanted to do as a volunteer. That all became crystal clear when I read an online post requesting pet therapy dogs at a local hospital.

I contacted ATD soon afterwards to begin the process of getting Demetra certified. The Tester/Observer’s final analysis of Demetra that “She is a natural, she’s a collie!” has proven true countless times since.

It has been an immensely enriching experience for me sharing Demetra and interacting with others, often in challenging times of their lives. The places we visit are nursing homes, hospital, and a cancer treatment center. In visiting these medical facilities, Demetra’s gentle greeting and calm disposition goes a long way to help relieve the stress that the staff very often are under. Seasoned nurses in a trauma unit become school children again and squeal at the sight of Demetra approaching them at their nurses’ stations. The reaction is priceless!

One cancer patient confided in me that she actually looks forward to her chemo treatment so she can see Demetra. Hearing how Demetra has “made someone’s day” has become routine but never old. A nursing home resident, a former educator, eloquently stated that, “Demetra is woven into the fabric of her soul.” It is humbling to hear such praise though Demetra has richly earned it.

Recently I began visiting hospice patients with Demetra. It is a great privilege to bring some happiness to these people as they face the end of their life’s journey.

Demetra and I also have our lighter moments, too, such as when we participate in library reading programs for young children and visit students on college campuses.

Four years have passed since the ATD welcomed Demetra as a new Member and today, we’ve almost reached our 600th visit as a pet therapy team. She is in her senior years now. So, while I can’t promise we’ll complete another 600 visits, every visit matters. I like to think that Demetra shares in my hope to bring joy to people that still lingers after we leave.

Beyond my role as a pet therapy handler, I am honored to dust off and apply my copywriting skills to assist ATD in updating some of their marketing materials. These include the Member Handbook and Tester/Observer Handbook.