September 13, 2016—More than 400 people will experience the healing power of dogs at this year’s East Bay Stand Down event, thanks to Valley Humane Society’s Canine Comfort Pet Therapy program. Members of the San Francisco Bay Area’s local homeless population and at-risk Veterans community will have a chance to interact with therapy teams on September 16 and 17 of the four-day event at the Alameda County Fairgrounds.
East Bay Stand Down organizes a variety of community groups biannually to provide needed services to homeless citizens and at-risk Veterans. This year’s pet therapy offering more than doubles the amount of individuals who will have access to the unconditional love and support that only a dog can provide. Taking the lead on coordinating therapy dog teams for 2016’s expanded program is Valley Humane Society volunteer Paul Wankle. Paul observed the need for expansion to better serve the large number of event participants during a previous volunteer experience at the event.
“Participating in East Bay Stand Down is an honor for me and my therapy dog, Buddy. I am proud to be associated with East Bay Stand Down since both of my parents served during World War II, with my mother being an early member of the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) supporting our troops. As an active Canine Comfort Pet Therapy dog handler for Valley Humane Society, I have the pleasure of watching Buddy make a deep emotional impact on those he interacts with,” said Paul.
The effect dogs have on humans has received increasing attention, with countless research projects concluding dogs are 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 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.