Nothing quite compares to the unconditional love that a dog can provide. When we come home to their eager faces, even the longest day can melt into pure love and delight. However, the hardworking and kind-hearted team at Caring Canines has seen firsthand how dogs, particularly therapy dogs, not only provide unconditional love, but enhance quality of life, provide comfort, boost confidence, and allow for true healing for many children, students and adults throughout Northern Colorado.
Life-changing and impactful moments are plentiful at Caring Canines and for Director, Sylvia Stribling, it’s these moments that make her work with Caring Canines the most rewarding work she has ever done. She explains, “I am proud that we can teach kindness, compassion, love, and respect through our dogs, which is so important in today’s world.”
Started in 2017 by founder, Georgia Granger, Caring Canines’ mission is to enhance quality of life through therapeutic interventions with caring canines, their owners, and professionals. Granger retired in 2021 and handed over the reins to Stribling. An animal lover to the core, Stribling who has worked with AAT/AAA programs for over 20 years has always been interested in the human-animal bond. She knows that we all have stories to tell about how an animal has touched our lives and it is important to her that Caring Canines continue to bring comfort and happiness to those in our community who need it the most.
Caring Canine dogs work wherever they are needed including schools with traumatized and at-risk students, Platte Valley Youth Services Center for incarcerated youth, day programs for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, assisted living and memory care facilities, libraries, teen suicide prevention programs, rehab centers, hospice, and even summer camp programs. They provide both Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) and Animal Assisted Activities (AAA). AAT involves working in schools and rehab facilities with students who are referred by psychologists, social workers, counselors or special-ed teachers. The Caring Canine dogs are both tools and motivators helping individuals achieve clearly-defined goals set by professionals and are then implemented through the dogs. AAA are casual meet and greet visits that involve interacting with people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities and are in assisted living facilities, hospitals, reading programs in libraries, and other environments.
The power of therapy dogs is undeniable and Stribling has seen time and time again how the Caring Canine therapy dogs have made an impact on the lives of those they work with.
“It’s been proven that the simple act of petting a dog can elevate moods, lower anxiety, and help people relax. Dogs offer unconditional love. Our dogs give people permission to express love and to receive love. They do not talk back or judge anyone. Many of the students have too much judgment in their lives by adults and peers. Often students will open up and talk to the dog about what is going on in their lives. Plus, it’s just FUN being with a dog!”
A 9-year-old elementary school student recently told a Caring Canines volunteer that “when I’m broken into pieces, Oscar helps put me back together.”
One of the counselors that Stribling works with told her that after interacting with one of the dogs, two students felt comfortable enough to open up to him about thoughts of suicide.
Another counselor told her that after the first session of working with one of their dogs while she was walking the boy back to his class, he told her more about what was going on at home than he had ever said before.
And another little girl stated that one of the Caring Canine dogs gave her "life--changing ideas" on how to be a better person and treat other people better.
Stribling explains, “Teens often come into the first session rather gruff and with a sense that they have to be standoffish and in control. Generally, after a couple of sessions, they are on the floor playing with the dog and experiencing all the love that the dog can give.
Plus, I believe that a new world opens up to our volunteers as well. It’s a world of volunteering, sharing, and giving. It’s a world where our dogs can make a phenomenal difference in the lives of others. Our volunteers are learning so much and enjoying the process. They LOVE the relationships, interactions with the people, and the positive impact they are making!”
Caring Canines is always looking for volunteers and therapy dogs. They are in need of compassionate people who have sweet, loving dogs that have the drive to work and learn new things. In addition, their volunteers must own the dog that they train as a Caring Canine therapy dog.
“If a person is kind hearted and owns a dog that loves to please everyone, not just its owner, all they have to do is contact me through our website at www.caringcaninescolorado.org.”
Don Allingham is one such local volunteer that had been working with Caring Canines for the past 6 years with his dog, Kiki. They participate in Animal Assisted Therapy at Lincoln Elementary in Loveland.
“Every year, I get to see kids grow and progress as we work together. While I only get to see the kids for a brief time each week, it is always amazing to watch them progress. They usually start off very quiet and shy and usually very nervous around Kiki. By the end of the year, the kids are presenting what they have learned to their class or their entire grade, speaking in front of everyone, and demonstrating how they have learned to get Kiki to sit, stay, come, jump, and even run through an obstacle course.
Teachers usually comment on how the students' confidence has grown, how their behavior has improved, and how they have generally changed in a positive way throughout the year. While we are only part of the developmental programs for the students, we seem to make a significant difference.”
He goes on to say that seeing the smiles on their faces each time they see Kiki and watching Kiki run to them with her tail wagging is always the highlight of his week.
Another Caring Canines volunteer is local realtor, Lindsay Chacon. She and her dog, Rocky, just finished their first school year participating in AAT at Ivy Elementary and Turner Middle School in Berthoud.
“Rocky came into my life as a little puppy in 2020 and we quickly created a strong bond. He has the sweetest, most loving, and happy personality. I wanted to share that with others,” she explains.
Lindsay has also seen the power of her therapy dog at work. “The kids open up more and there is less tension getting to know each other with a dog than one-on-one. Everyone is more relaxed. I see their confidence grow by having fun with Rocky and by him listening to their commands.”
Caring Canines is a nonprofit and relies on donations that can be made through their website at www.caringcaninescolorado.org.
“Our dogs give people permission to express love and to receive love.”