St. John Ambulance recruits therapy dogs
By ALAN LICZYK Staff Reporter

One-year-old English bulldog Tetlee ,belonging to Vicki St. Jules of Brampton, was among 14 dogs to go through an evaluation in the recruitment for St. John Ambulance therapy dogs.

To help residents of nursing homes and longterm care facilities feel better, St. John Ambulance will bring in its therapy dogs for a visit.

Currently, the St. John Ambulance Brampton Branch is running 40 dogs in its program, but it continually looks for new recruits, explained Charlene Bartlett, therapy dog coordinator with St. John Ambulance.

Bartlett is also the owner of Caledon Hills Pet Spa in Bolton which hosted the latest recruitment for St. John Ambulance therapy dogs.

She said she usually runs about four to six evaluations a year. At her most recent recruitment she had 14 dogs come in.

She explained St. John Ambulance isn't looking for any particular breed of dog. They don't take aggressive dogs or any banned dogs like pit bulls. Submissive dogs will be asked to come back for a re-evaluation. Dogs must be at least one year of age. Flat leashes and flat collars are also a must.

Debbie Corbett of Caledon, takes her oneyear old golden retriever Charlie through the evaluation exercise during the recruitment for St. John Ambulance therapy dogs held at Caledon Hills Pet Spa in Bolton.

"The biggest thing is to have fun with your dog," Bartlett said.

Dog owners must bring proof of all vaccinations for their pet on a yearly basis. There's also a police record check done for the owners.

During an evaluation, there's no interaction between the dogs except one part called "dog meeting dog." The dogs are also judged on how they react with milling crowds of people. If a dog shows aggression it's asked to leave and can't come back in the future. Bartlett said they have zero tolerance for aggressive dogs.

"It's an absolutely amazing program," she said.

Once a dog is accepted, it then goes through 10 weeks of training. They then become certified members of St. John Ambulance. The dogs receive a dog therapy tag and a bandanna. Each owner of a St. John Ambulance therapy dog receives a sweatshirt or a golf shirt. Their outfits are always a white top, black pants and black shoes.

Bartlett had three dogs of her own but just recently had to put down her 10- year-old great pyrenees named Bandit. He made about 1,000 visits.

"He touched a lot of people," she said. "I wouldn't be where I am today without him."

She added she and Bandit brought the program into the Invictus Youth Correctional Facility in Brampton for girls age 15 to 18 which just closed down last year. The girls would lie on the floor and they would hug Bandit and sing to him. Their favourite song was "In the Arms of an Angel."

"He would relish every moment they would sing to him," Bartlett said.

She also owns a female great pyrenees named Misty who turns six years old on St, Patrick's Day, and a female red Doberman pinscher named Skylar who turns two years old in June.

Among the local facilities the St. John Ambulance therapy dogs visit are the Davis Centre and King Nursing Home in Bolton, plus 11 more nursing homes and long-term care facilities in Brampton.

In mid-February they were present for a woman's 99th birthday at the Davis Centre. They also visit fall fairs, parades, mall displays, sparks, girl guides and boy scouts.

Caledon Hills Pet Spa is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday by appointment only. Call 905-857-9365.