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TPGC Pet Partner Makes the Final Copy

TPGC Treasurer Judy Pepin's Bella recently made the news. She was selected as a cover model for the 2009-2010 Cincinnati Bell Yellow Pages.
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TPGC Member Recognized with Volunteer Award

Therapy Pets of Greater Cincinnati recently received a charitable donation from US Bank on behalf of employee Debra Bryant & her Shetland Sheepdog Cassie.

Bryant, a 30 year veteran of the bank and a two year member of TPGC heard that the bank was soliciting stories regarding volunteer work being performed by bank employees throughout the 24 state footprint of the bank and decided to write up a nomination for herself & Cassie. Said Bryant, "I felt pretty silly nominating myself, but when I discovered that the bank was going to award donations of up to $1,000.00 for winning entries, I just had to try. I am so proud of TPGC. The work we do makes such a difference in the lives of so many. It was a pleasure to tell someone about it.

Petting dogs therapeutic for ill and elderly

This article originally appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Petting dogs therapeutic for ill and elderly

When people tell Glena Mockbee she is going to the dogs, she smiles. She's happy they noticed.

Mrs. Mockbee spends 25 to 30 hours every week bathing her three dogs and hauling them to area hospitals, nursing homes and a hospice for pet therapy sessions. She also gives talks about pet therapy at preschools and libraries.

The Mount Washington resident has watched in awe as the faces of dangerously ill or wounded children break into smiles when Zoe,

Reading session goes to the dogs

This article originally appeared in the Eastside Life newspaper on January 24, 2007.

Reading session goes to the dogs

Call it a happy tale. Or tail.

Elizabeth Burress rescued Lily, a 4-year-old Labrador retriever mix, from an abusive home several years ago. The dog now serves as an ambassador for the Delta Society, therapy pet program, visiting nursing homes, hospitals and the library to share goodwill.

Every third Thursday of the month Burress and Lily visit

Therapy Dog a Treat

This article originally appeared in the Suburban Life newspaper on December 20, 2006.

Therapy dog a treat for those that meet her in school

This 5-year old Labrador-Collie-Chow mixed breed might be the envy of all dogs. Everywhere the black, bright-eyed girl goes, someone pets her. Lexi - full name Precious Alexa Lexi - is a therapy dog, healing and helping with her calm and affectionate demeanor and her therapy will not be denied.

Sometimes, if you forget to pet her, she'll remind you with a gentle paw on your thigh. "Emotionally and mentally she's a lifesaver for everybody she meets," said Sami Smith, Lexi's owner. Smith, a Madeira resident, rescued Lexi from a shelter on Mother's Day in 2005 to fulfill her dream of working with a therapy dog.

Doggy Tales

This article originally appeared in the Pulse Journal.

DOGGY TALES

R.E.A.D. with Bandit Program provides unique approach.

People and children alike stop and stare when the local library's celebrity star walks through the doors. Fairfield Lane Library gives children the opportunity to practice their reading skills with the help of a furry, four-legged friend throughout the year. For two years, Fairfield Lane Library has taken part in the national Reading Education Assistance Dogs program.

"I wanted an alternative for children who had difficulties with reading,"

Snood-Full of Love

Snood-Full of Love Project Wins Many Hearts (and First Prize!) at the Basset Hound Club of America’s National Specialty

One of the highlights of the 2008 BHCA’s National Specialty held the first week of October in Plano, Texas was the annual “Snood Contest”. (Snoods are fabric tubes which slip over the dogs’ heads to keep the long ears clean prior to competition.) Competitors arrived in themes ranging from sports mascots and line dancing Cowboys to a full cast of sheep in a spoof of the Serta Mattress commercial. Terri Ralenkotter, pet therapy volunteer and member of Delta Society chapter Therapy Pets of Greater Cincinnati, and her two Basset Hounds, Rain and Seti presented their entry “A Snood-Full of Love”.

West Clermont Elementary Schools

This article appeared in the West Clermont Local Schools Connections newsletter of OCtober 10, 2008.

Young readers at Withamsville-Tobasco Elementary School receive a little therapy each week from some four-legged friends. Steve Inkrot and his canine helpers Duffy and Gunny, trained Delta Society therapy dogs, visit the school every week to help young readers learn not only about animals, but about reading.

Reading Dogs Give Students a Boost

Reading scores improve after program implemented

This article appeared at The Clermont Sun and may be viewed in its entirety here.

Michael Bradley
Sun staff

The art of reading has literally gone canine at the Locust Corner Elementary School.

For the last four years, the elementary school has been engaging it's more than 400 students in reading to privately owned certified therapy dogs that come in for an hour once a week to the homerooms for the students to read out loud to the dogs.