Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
Therapy dogs can provide a huge lift for people that need a little furry tenderness and one local group can help you or your dog become certified in providing that help.
Superiorland Pet Partners is looking for individuals interested in a possible therapy dog handler class this summer.
Co-founder Patty Cornish says this class is the first step in becoming a pet therapy team. “The handler has to take the class and then we look at scheduling an evaluation and the Dee Stadium has also stepped up and supported us by offering a place for testing the dogs when they’re ready for that,” said Cornish.
One of the dogs she brings around to brighten people’s days is Bijou, a poodle-terrier mix who is 100 percent cute. “Bijou is 11 years old, soon to be 12,” said Cornish. “He just did his second recertification for pet therapy, so he now registered at a complex level. He can go into the psych unit, into the ICU unit—wherever people need to pet a dog.”
A Keweenaw chapter of Superiorland Pet Partners recently formed, expanding the pet therapy organization’s reach across much of the Upper Peninsula.
“The Superiorland Pet Partners that’s based out of Marquette is now taking our act on the road, literally,” Cornish said. “We’ve got dogs in the Keweenaw, we’ve got dogs in Gogebic County, we’ve got dogs in Luce, Alger, Delta, and over in Chippewa County and so the goal here is to let people know if they’ve got interesting—not only dogs, but Pet Partners recognizes eight species of animals that can be pet therapy animals—horses, Guinea pigs, bird, rats—no snakes.”
Yes, cats can be therapy animals, too.
Anyone interested in becoming part of a pet therapy team can contact Superiorland Pet Partners (906) 202-2905 or find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/superiorlandpetpartners/
You can also hear the entire interview with Patty Cornish along with Kim Picci and Whitney Boroski from the Keweenaw Chapter on this week’s Copper Country Today.
