Many of our therapy dog teams are young people that have either attended our Introduction to Becoming a Therapy Dog Team workshop with their dogs or have trained their dogs on their own and passed the certification test to become a registered therapy dog team. These young teams have a lot in common, the need to do something good in the world and a loving bond with their dog that they are willing to share with others.

Kim Fontaine and Tyler pictured here began visiting when Kim’s school offered the students in grades 6-8 the opportunity to visit with senior residents of a nearby nursing home. Kim recalls that it was almost immediately that she thought her gentle dog Tyler would make a good visiting companion and so she began taking him with her on her visits. Some of her experiences with Tyler led her to want to become a certified therapy dog team. Kim found that Tyler seemed to be magnetically drawn to a man who was blind. She says “he (Tyler) seemed to know of his disability and gave him a lot of attention, even without a judgmental sniff” or the time she was trying hard to keep Tyler away from a woman who was sleeping. All of a sudden she awoke and began talking to and patting Tyler. She later found out that the woman usually slept all day and had never spoken to anyone.

Kim has been visiting for 2 years now. She states that she has found her “dream voluntary career” as a certified therapy dog team.

Many of our Junior members have received community recognition for their community service. Simon Davis-Millis was featured in our newsletter (see news page Fall newsletter) for his nomination to the National Association of Secondary School Principals and Prudential Volunteer Award for Outstanding Acts of Community Service.

Dog B.O.N.E.S. is proud of all of our Junior members for the dedication they demonstrate to their dogs, and their community.