Visiting Pet Program Schedules Local Meet-and-Greet, Training Sessions

The Hudson Valley Visiting Pet Program provides animal assisted therapy and education throughout the Rockland, Westchester, Orange and Bergen County area. Members of the program have been visiting nursing homes, assisted living centers, day programs, schools, libraries, and hospitals since 1993. The organization is an affiliate of Intermountain Therapy Animals, one of the largest animal assisted therapy programs in the country. The organization will host two workshops for those interested in doing animal assisted therapy with their pets.

“Meet the Therapy Pets” – Everyone is invited to come meet the therapy dogs at these free events on:

• Thursday, February 19 at 7 pm at Valley Cottage Library Community Room in Valley Cottage.
• Wednesday February 25 at 7 pm at Blauvelt Library, Western Highway in Blauvelt

For those interested in learning to work with their dogs, cats or other pets, a prescreening session will take place on Saturday, March 7th from 10am until 2 pm by appointment only. For more information or to register contact the Visiting Pet Program.

On Saturday, March 8th there will be an educational program at 1:00pm to inform parents about the Reading Education Assistance Dog™ program (R.E.A.D.™), a free literacy program developed in 1999 by Intermountain Therapy Animals in Salt Lake City Utah to improve the literacy skills of children through the assistance of registered therapy teams as literacy mentors. Parents will learn how they can enroll their children. This presentation is being conducted by a Girl Scout working on her Gold Award to help bring R.E.A.D. to more children throughout Rockland County. The location will be posted on the organization’s website www.hudsonvalleyvisitingpets.com

On Saturday, March 21st there will be a Reading Education Assistance Dog workshop for those who want to learn to work with their therapy pet to help children learn to read. It will be held at the Nanuet Library and more information will be available on the Visiting Pet Program website. The workshop, which is $99, is designed to introduce this unique literacy program to therapy dog handlers, teachers, school administrators, and librarians. The workshop will provide information and training on how children can improve their reading skills and self confidence by working with a registered therapy dog team.

On Saturday March 28 from 9am until 5pm there will be a therapy handler workshop for new applicants. Registration information will be on the website at www.hudsonvalleyvisitingpets.com This workshop will introduce people to the world of animal assisted therapy and prepare prospective volunteers to visit hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and other facilities with their dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, and other domestic pets. The cost is $125 which includes class materials and lunch. ($100 for senior citizens).

On Saturday April 11 from 9am until noon, therapy dog team evaluation preparation class will be held. For more information contact the Visiting Pet Program.

On Saturday April 25 from 10am until 3pm there will be therapy handler team evaluations by appointment only.

Registration forms are available on the organization’s website at www.HudsonValleyVisitingPets.com or by calling 845-267-8795 or by sending an email to dolores@hudsonvalleyvisitingpets.com

The teams that participate in both programs through the Hudson Valley Visiting Pet program do so on a volunteer basis and no fees are ever charged to the organizations who utilize the various services. The handler teams are tested, registered and insured.

PHOTOS courtesy Hudson Valley Visiting Pet program