August 22, 2018— Valley Humane Society’s Canine Comfort Pet Therapy teams are once again stepping up to participate in East Bay Stand Down. Hundreds of homeless and at-risk Veterans from across the San Francisco Bay Area will be able to experience the healing power of dogs on September 14 and 15 of a four-day event at the Alameda County Fairgrounds.
Every two years, East Bay Stand Down organizes community groups to provide needed services to homeless and at-risk Veterans. Canine Comfort Pet Therapy teams will be on-hand sharing their unique brand of unconditional love and support as part of a Wellness group focusing on mind and body healing.
Overseeing the Wellness group is Valley Humane Society board member Paul Wankle. “I look forward to each Stand Down as an opportunity to serve our Veterans in honor of my parents who served during WWII,” said Paul, “and to joining the rest of the Canine Comfort team with my latest dog Enzo in providing the Vets emotional support.” Of Laura Morrison, the Valley Humane Society volunteer coordinating this year’s therapy dog teams, Paul said, “Laura has done a wonderful job increasing the number of teams for 2018.” Laura and her dog Marleau visit Veteran’s Affairs in Livermore weekly as part of their regular Canine Comfort activities.
Countless research projects have shown animal interaction to be great medicine for humans. Interacting with a dog has been proven to change a person’s brain chemistry by increasing chemicals like oxytocin, endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin. The release of these chemicals has a direct effect on those suffering from a number of physiological and mental illnesses. “When I started working at Valley Humane Society, I was surprised how many doctors prescribed time at our facility cuddling with animals to their patients suffering from depression,” said Valley Humane Society Executive Director, Melanie Sadek.
Valley Humane Society’s Canine Comfort Pet Therapy program boasts a roster of nearly 200 therapy dog teams and an excellent reputation in pet therapy, thanks to a thorough screening process which requires background checks on handlers and annual veterinary check-ups for participating dogs. Canine Comfort teams visit locations all over the East Bay, including Veterans Affairs in Livermore where Valley Humane Society is the VA’s exclusive pet therapy provider.