Retirement of a Community Champion & Friend

An exceptional therapy dog starting at one year old till his now lovely age of 12 years - - or 84 years old in dog years - - our Morgan retires this year in a healthy state to enjoy the couch, an occasional walk and his backwoods at a little more leisurely pace.  

For 77 working-dog years, our talented gentleman-dog sat with many children who read books to him, who drew pictures of him and who hugged him till the cows came home!  Morgan didn't seem to mind all the petting and attention.  He tolerated easily up to 3 hours of therapy work which we believe is exceptional for most dogs.   Morgan sat with countless individuals who talked to him and told him stories, sometimes happy and sometimes sad.   It didn't matter what you wanted to tell him as he always would give you the attention and care needed because he somehow knew it mattered to that person.   With a kind and compassionate nature, Morgan has tremendous patience for everyone's needs.  Morgan also inspired individuals to do their very best and be their very best!  Since a short-time after birth, Morgan had acquired an eyesight disability.  He never let that stop him from being a very active community member or from doing his work of visiting others. From school wellness visits, girl and boy scouting events, pet therapy workshops to teach dog safety skills to children and families, or to visiting a Rehabilitation Center or Nursing Center, Morgan trusted in the kindness of others.   Many families were inspired by him and went out to find a special pet friend of their own, for reading to and for getting important companionship.

So Kudos!  ...and Happy Retirement!  As human beings,  we hope to model the immense happiness, compassion, caring and insightful lens that our exceptional therapy dog has given and still does give to our family and neighborhood.  

Care Manage For All LLC and its community-of-care congratulate and honor a community champion and friend!   In lieu of a retirement gift of dog cookies, Morgan is asking if you would please consider making a donation instead to The Memory Maker Project, 213 N. Tioga St #312 Ithaca NY 14851. Checks can be made payable to the Center for Transformative Action with “fbo The Memory Maker Project” in the memo line  or by clicking The Memory Maker Click & Pledge .   Find more information about The Memory Maker Project at http://memorymakerproject.org/  or contact kim@memorymakerproject.org 

Be "Pransky Proud" !

...another good TDI Therapy Dog Moment to Share !  Click below to see news about Pransky.....

Pransky the Therapy Dog

Veterans and Service Dogs

For Veterans interested in obtaining a service dog, here is information for you to view which is listed on the Department of Veterans Affairs site: 

Guide and Service Dogs http://www.va.gov/health/ServiceAndGuideDogs.asp

TDI Therapy Dogs continue to expand their caring...

Congratulations to all the volunteers and TDI therapy dogs  for an awesome job caring for their communities!  Here's to 2013 and your continued growth.  Click here for TDI Blogspot!!

Therapy Dogs Bring Smiles and Comfort in Facility-Based Care Settings

Therapy Dog visits make a positive difference in older adults' quality of life in facility-based care.   The therapy visit, at times, is extended to include facility staff.  Therapy dogs offer petting time as a thank you and to acknowledge the important care work that is provided by dedicated staff.

Therapy Dogs Provide Important Caring Partnerships

Therapy Dog Toby offers meaningful visit time with older adults who are home-bound.  Therapy dogs are trained to provide comfort.   These interactions encourage positive emotional feelings by providing opportunities to engage in interactions that are safe, kind and gentle towards whom they visit.  

Public Service Announcement: Be Active with Your Dog !

Public Service Announcement: You and Your Dog — Active Together

Walking the dog helps your dog stay healthy, but it can be good for your health, too, especially if you pick up the pace a bit. Enjoy the fresh air, the company of an “exercise buddy,” and the benefits of daily exercise.

Make your routine more fun

Dogs and people are creatures of habit. Go for walks and play about the same time each day. As you get into a routine, change your stroll through the neighborhood to a brisk walk. To make it more social, make a plan with a neighbor to walk your dogs together. Or, walk to your local dog park. It’s a great place for you and Fido to make new friends.

Be imaginative

Walks are great, but consider other physical activities, too. A game of catch will give you and your dog a great workout. Improve your agility by setting up a series of obstacles in the yard or at the park, such as lawn chairs or bags of leaves, that you can both move around.

Keep safety in mind

On long walks, bring water for both of you, especially on hot days. When it’s really hot, walk in the morning and evening, rather than during the middle of the day. In cold and snowy weather, wear boots with good traction. Check your dog’s paws, and remove snow and ice from his footpads. Hikes in the woods are great, but be sure to check yourself and your dog for ticks when you get home.

To find out more about how you can be more active, visit the Go4Life® website at www.nia.nih.gov/Go4Life. Go4Life is an exercise and physical activity campaign from the National Institute on Aging at NIH. It has exercises, success stories, and free materials to help you get ready, start exercising, and keep going.