Children’s Programs

Therapeutic Paws of Canada offers several Children’s Programs that our Child Certified Teams participate in.   Only our most dependable pets work in these programs due to the more unpredictable and excitable nature of children.  Our programs are designed to achieve the goals of our clients in a fun and safe environment.

Paws to Read®

The Paws To Read® program is offered to primary schools and libraries free of charge. In the PTR® program, children read to a Child Certified pet in a relaxed atmosphere. Children can struggle with reading at different stages of their learning and may have difficulty reading out loud or in front of a group. Reading with a dog or cat can help to improve a child’s self-confidence and desire to read. The therapy pet is non-judgmental and brings back the joy of reading. Teachers and parents have noted that there is a significant increase in the reading abilities of a child that has participated in a Paws to Read® program.

PAWS Room

Schools, colleges and universities are offered the PAWS Room program. TPOC volunteers visit many students of all ages through the PAWS Room program in large or small group formats. The presence of a therapy pet can help reduce the student’s stress levels during exam time, traumatic circumstances, and reduce feelings of loneliness for family, friends and the family pet while living away from home.  Many schools are now including this initiative as part of their regular ongoing Health and Wellness programs with great success.

Paws-Abilities

Therapeutic Paws of Canada offers the Paws-Abilities programs for people of all ages to explore the full “paws-ability” to reach their goals.  TPOC believes in bringing the fun and joy back into tasks that may be incredibly difficult.  Our teams work with a mental, physical, emotional, and trauma induced disabilities.  We tailor our programs to the individual needs of the person.  Some visits focus on social interaction, some on physical motivation in physiotherapy, and some on attentiveness and calming.  Simply having a pet therapy team present takes the focus off the task at hand and directs it to the interaction between the person and the pet. No matter the goal, the outcomes are always positive and bring the fun factor into the challenge of the person’s regular therapy.

Paws for Comfort

Therapeutic Paws of Canada volunteers offers the Paws for Comfort program. This program has been designed for dogs/cats and their handlers who want to participate in visitations with first responders, shelters, hospices, disaster sites, grief/loss support, school crisis support and wherever there is a need. The dog/cat, accompanied by their handler, is there expressly to offer emotional support.

Support Pets With VWAP

The Support Pet program is designed to accommodate a specific request on behalf of client from an organization such as Victim Witness Assistance Program, Victim Services Assistance Programs, Canadian courts, and Police Agencies. The Support Pet is accompanied by its handler and is there expressly to offer emotional support either in an interview room setting, or at times in the courtroom during proceedings. The Support Pet and their handler will offer emotional support only to the victim or witness. Due to the difficult subject matter that may be heard during interviews and testimonies, this program is not for every TPOC volunteer.  Participants in the Support Dog program must be Child Certified.

For all questions regarding Children’s Programs please contact your local Team Leader or the Director of Children’s Programs at directorcp@tpoc.ca