Going to the dogs
CENTER TWP — Fred Marrapode was at the VA Butler Healthcare hospital several years ago, being prepared for a procedure, when he started to have a panic attack.
Though Marrapode had never heard of therapy animals at the time, there happened to be a woman with a therapy dog nearby.
The dog sensed that Marrapode, an Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War, was having trouble and came over to help.
“He came over and pinned me down for 10 or 15 minutes and that took care of the problem. That proved to me that it works,” Marrapode said about therapy dogs.
Marrapode was one of about 10 residents at the VA Community Living Center who enjoyed watching and interacting with canines Tuesday, at the Family Dog Obedience Center on Route 8.
The CLC, which has 60 residents, is visited on a regular basis by about 10 different registered therapy dogs and one therapy cat, said Maryann Capuzzi, recreation therapist.
“There's a number of reasons that show why therapy dogs are therapeutic for the vets. It reduces stress and anxiety and has been shown to reduce blood pressure,” Capuzzi said.
Randy McCracken of Center Township and his Brittany spaniel, Clancy, and Janet Ellis of Center Township and her Cavalier King Charles spaniel, MacDuff, both visit the CLC weekly. They also take their dogs to the obedience center to participate in agility training.
McCracken said that the vets enjoy interacting with Clancy on a leash, but he floated the idea of having them visit the obedience center to see what Clancy can do off his leash.
“They all love the dogs, but they never get to see them run and jump,” he said.The demonstration Tuesday included 10 dogs jumping hurdles, running through tunnels, over a balance beam and dodging in and out of weave poles.The obedience center offers classes for dogs and owners interested in getting registered as therapy dogs through Pet Partners, a national organization that administers the testing, said Val Klein, the center's owner.A dog has to be at least 1 year old to be registered as a therapy animal, though they can start training before that. Any breed can do it, though the dog must be friendly and enjoy interacting with people.Ellis said that being a therapy dog came naturally to MacDuff, though each therapy dog and its handler are trained and tested as a duo.“I always say with this breed, it's me that needed the training, not him. They're lovely dogs. They love people,” she said.She takes MacDuff to the CLC once per week and also takes him to Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center weekly.
McCracken said his mother lived in a nursing home before passing away and he saw the positive effects that therapy dogs had on the residents there.“It breaks up their day,” he said about taking Clancy to the CLC. “I don't know how many of the guys will come up to me and say, 'You made my day.'”Also helping with the presentation Tuesday were several Slippery Rock University students who are taking the university's animal assisted intervention minor.Debbie Hutchins, SRU professor and therapy dog owner, said that interacting with a therapy dog can release endorphins and cortisol.“More and more research shows that the animal/human bond helps reduce depression and loneliness,” Hutchins said.Paul Baros, a Navy veteran, said the residents at the CLC look forward to the dogs visiting.“All they ask for is food and a little affection,” he said.Baros and Marrapode both said they hope to get more chances to see the agility dogs again.“That was something,” Marrapode said. “I've seen it on TV, but not live.”
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