Healing the hearts of children one wagging tail at a time…
Last Saturday about 35 AAI practitioners from New England gathered at Boston Children’s Hospital for a networking meeting. Presentations from Tufts, Beth Israel, Soul Friends and Wheeler Clinic explored issues like therapy animal screening, policy issues and outcome measures. Our work at Soul Friends, Inc was well received.
New Horses Inspire Logo celebrates 6 years of services
Every day provides an opportunity for a lesson learned in my life living with 4 therapy dogs – today the lesson from Noah is REST. As someone living with a chronic illness, while also trying to run a nonprofit – my mind often forgets to slow down. My body provides the daily reminder to stop moving, but my mind never seems to rest.
Noah is a chocolate lab puppy mill dog now 6 years old. He loves his ball and loves to run on hikes. However, as he lays by my side today he is reminding me to REST and enjoy the moment.
Statewide nonprofit invites short film submissions to the first annual Petflix Film Festival on November 21, 2009. Celebrate your love of your pet dog, horse, cat and small animals and watch their story shown on the big screen. Or celebrate the work of your therapy dog or therapeutic riding partner.. For more information download entrance form on our download page at www.soul-friends.org or buy tickets for the event at www.active.com
DEADLINE for Short Film Festival submissions is November 7th
Soul Friends therapy dogs love their work. Attached see a story on them at work with students at a school in CT. During this session the most amazing thing happened with one boy living with autism spectrum who had participated in our program four months earlier. He walked in for a special hello and his first words were “there’s Muffin, look she got a haircut!”. Not only did the boy remember Muffin’s name but noticed and attended to the change in her appearance. As a clinical social worker,for over 20 years it was one of my most rewarding moments of my career.
Stay tuned the Soul Friends Therapy Dogs at Work and Play Series. For information on the book Therapy Dogs at Work and Play visit www.amazon.com or www.lulu.com
Kate Nicoll, LCSW
Special Dogs Going to Special Students
NBC30 recently posted the following video segment regarding Soul Friends. Click here to see it!
Support our efforts to build an equine program – and please donate at this holiday season. Soul Friends has had a pony donated if we can raise $6,000 by the end of the year.