Coastal Therapy Dogs

Coastal Therapy Dogs offers practice clinics to help prepare dog and handler teams for their certification test. These clinics expose dogs to staged environments with medical equipment and various people, providing feedback and tips for improvement. They also offer Canine Good Citizen certification at these clinics.

Coastal Therapy Dogs (CTD) is a local volunteer organization dedicated to bringing comfort, healing, and happiness through pet therapy in the Coastal Savannah area. They provide clinics, testing, certification, and insurance coverage for members who volunteer with their dogs. Their mission is to increase public awareness of the benefits of pet therapy by visiting special needs facilities, hospitals, colleges, libraries, nursing homes, and cancer centers.

The organization’s goal is to brighten someone’s day, whether it be for patients, visitors, or employees, by putting smiles on faces and sometimes bringing back cherished memories. They emphasize that interaction with therapy dogs can lower blood pressure, relieve stress, and ease depression.

CTD offers practice clinics several times a year where dog owners can expose their dogs to experienced CTD observer volunteers. During these clinics, dogs are observed in staged environments using hospital and nursing home equipment to provide feedback on areas needing improvement for the CTD test. Tips are given on how dogs can be more at ease around medical equipment and handicapped individuals, and various situations with difficult people, Alzheimer patients, and food left on the floor are simulated. They also offer Canine Good Citizen certification at these clinics.

To become a certified therapy dog with CTD, a dog must be at least one year old, and if rescued, must have been with the owner for at least six months prior to testing. The dog and handler must pass a two-part test, demonstrating basic obedience commands such as sit, stay, down, and loose leash walking in a heel position. The dog must also know the “leave it” command for food, bandages, and pills. Dogs must be groomed, clean, up to date on shots, and not afraid of wheelchairs, crutches, or walkers. They recommend enrolling dogs in an obedience class to learn basic obedience and good manners.

To become a member of Coastal Therapy Dogs, Inc., applicants must pass a Control Evaluation administered by a Certified Behaviorist, Certified Dog Trainer, Certified Obedience Instructor, or AKC approved Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. Additionally, 10 hours of supervised visits are required, with at least five visits with the same person, and a maximum of one visit per day. A completed CTD Visit Evaluation form, observed by the person who supervised at least five visits, and a Membership Application must be submitted.

Accomplishments

Coastal Therapy Dogs is Savannah, Georgia’s First Local Therapy Dog Club! They have over 50+ years of therapy dog visitation experience in the Savannah area.

How to Get Started!

To become a member of Coastal Therapy Dogs, Inc., prospective members must first pass a Control Evaluation administered by a certified professional such as a Certified Behaviorist or AKC approved Canine Good Citizen Evaluator. Following this, 10 hours of supervised visits are required, with at least five visits conducted with the same person. The process concludes with the submission of a completed CTD Visit Evaluation form and a Membership Application.