She’s ‘a natural at it’: pet therapy bringing smiles across southern Alberta

Kenzy is a certified therapy dog through Pet Partners in Southern Alberta. Pre pandemic, she and Quinn made regular visits to hospitals and retirement homes, providing smiles wherever they went.

They’re hoping to get back into their routine soon.

“Kenzy is a natural at it, she’s just so good with people,” Quinn said.

It all started a few years ago.

Gas City Dog Club had several requests from the community to provide pet therapy training. President Alta Magee says working with Pet Partners was the perfect fit.

“They put the dog and the handler as a team,” Magee said. “The welfare of both is paramount and they educate the handlers and it’s an ongoing thing.”

Handlers and animals must pass an evaluation, and get recertified every two years.

But it’s not just for dogs, nine different animal species are eligible including rabbits, horses and llamas.

As a retired registered nurse, Magee thought pet therapy would only be at hospitals and nursing homes.

“But we have therapy teams at the college, we have therapy teams in private businesses, we have therapy teams at the schools and in outpatient programs,” Magee said.

One of the therapy teams in the schools is retired librarian, Judy Graham and her dog, Beau. They help teach kids how to read.

“They’re not intimidated by their friends for reading out loud or to the teacher,” Graham said. “They’re very relaxed, they normally have their hand on the dog petting them. I don’t judge them if they make a mistake reading and it improves their reading skills.”

Gas City Dog Club has seen the benefits of pet therapy across the city and wants to help more people. Training resumes this September after being put on pause throughout covid.

For Quinn, he beams with pride every chance he gets to share Kenzy.

“It’s not a service, it’s not work,” Quinn said. “It’s giving.”

by Teagan Rasche

She’s ‘a natural at it’: pet therapy bringing smiles across southern Alberta

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