Becky Weiss and her Labrador Retriever, Laila, are a Nor’wester therapy team that volunteers at Center School in Willow Grove. Becky and her teacher, Diana McGeady, have collaborated virtually to keep therapy dog visits going and alive for their class. On her birthday last week, Laila decided to send a message to the children asking…
Read with Nilla 2020
Meet Nor’wester therapy dog Nilla! Some of our therapy dog teams will be working remotely with their host teachers while students continue online education. Our organization is thrilled that we are able to continue to offer our canine partners in education program virtually until it is safe to return to in person visits.
GIVING TUESDAY, December 3, 2019
Dear Friends and Supporters: Please consider making a donation to Nor’wester Therapy Dogs so that we can continue to grow our program and services. It is people like you who help us keep the therapy dog magic alive for students who are struggling socially, emotionally, and academically. If you prefer not to donate via the…
SERVICE DOGS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DOGS, THERAPY DOGS: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
by Jan Reisen Published on American Kennel Club website: July 31, 2019 Dogs have been aiding and working with humans since ancient times, in everything from farming to hunting to protection and more. Service dogs, emotional support animals, and therapy dogs all fulfill important roles in their aid to humans, but the terms are not…
SUMMER FUN AT THE FREE LIBRARY OF NORTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP!
Nor’wester’s public library liaison & coordinator, Lynn Lenz, worked with librarians Sarah Ravapinto and Christy Lazzarino to offer a six week vacation program of READ TO THE DOGS at the Richboro public library. The program started on June 27th and ran weekly on Thursdays through August 8th. Therapy dogs were provided by the Nor’wester organization…
Donate When You Shop at Amazon
Nor’wester Therapy Dogs receives donations through the Amazon Smile program, which donates 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products. Just by shopping at smile.amazon.com, you can donate to us! On your first visit to AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), you are prompted to select a charitable organization from our list of eligible organizations. You can change your…
CAN MY DOG BECOME A THERAPY DOG?
One of the most frequent questions we get is from owners who want to know how they can get their dog certified to work as a registered therapy dog. We have learned over the years that the most important thing is a well socialized dog. Proper socialization creates a relaxed, confident, well-adjusted, and happy canine,…
SUMMER READING FUN!
SOME GREAT DOG-THEMED BOOKS FOR STUDENTS It’s summertime and a great time to catch up on pleasure reading. Our therapy dogs recommended some wonderful dog stories and encourage you to visit your local public library! The Nor’wester therapy dogs will be visiting the Free Library at Northampton Township in Richboro on Thursdays now through August…
FREE EYE EXAMS FOR THERAPY AND SERVICE DOGS
Free eye exams!? Yes, many of our Nor’wester therapy dogs were fortunate to receive free sight-preserving screenings in May. Each year the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) collaborates with StokesRx to offer free ocular-screening eye exams to qualified service, working, and therapy dogs. This philanthropic event benefits formally trained service, working, and therapy dogs…
Title Your Therapy Dog
Did you know that your therapy dog can earn official AKC (American Kennel Club) therapy dog titles? While the title is just a piece of paper, it is symbolic of the commitment and volunteer hours you spend in partnership with your therapy dog. There are five titles your dog can earn based on the number…