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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, April 3, 2014 | 6 Therapy dogs have nerves of steel and hearts of gold by Bob Mitchell Special to the Beaver Spotlight "Connected to your Community" A t home, she's a guard dog, barking when people come to the front door, but Zoe is all business when she's working. Once a week, the eight-year-old, 50pound standard poodle spends three-and-ahalf hours visiting -- and calming patients at Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH), providing love and tenderness to their otherwise anxious lives. "When she's working she goes into her Zen mode. She's totally quiet. She doesn't make a sound," said owner Anna Armstrong, who runs a stable of 55 therapy dogs for Oakville's St. John Ambulance branch. "Zoe knows that's what she's supposed to do. She greets people with her tail wagging in a very peaceful way." Armstrong's program is one of many therapy dog programs operated by St. John Ambulance across Canada. The program started in 1992 in Peterborough. When visiting patients, Armstrong will lift Zoe onto their beds where Zoe lays perfectly still as she gets hugged and petted. The unconditional love and interaction between Zoe and patients, many of whom are bed ridden and in pain, is often magical. "Last year in the psychiatric ward there was this woman in her early 50s, who was basically catatonic. She didn't speak and didn't have any expression on her face," said Armstrong, who began overseeing Oakville's therapy dog program four years ago. "Every week I would place her hand on Zoe so she could just feel her, but she still wouldn't have any expression on her face. "But by the third week, there was a little smile on her face and by the fourth week there was a bigger smile. After that, she could hardly wait for Zoe to come and visit her each week. She would still lay very still with Zoe beside her and eventually she started talking about Zoe. It was Zoe, who actually got her to start talking again." Another time, Zoe managed to calm a woman, who was screaming out of control, said Armstrong, a retired elementary school teacher. "She was crying and hitting the walls. They tried everything to calm her down. Even the medication wasn't working," Armstrong said. "As soon a Zoe came into the room and got on the bed, the woman came They really have to have nerves of steel. They can't be afraid of anything. Children are children, but the dogs aren't supposed to react to anything. St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program co-ordinator Anna Armstrong Zoe, like other St. John Ambulance therapy dogs, must have nerves of steel in order to pass the screening and get to work. | photo courtesy of Anna Armstrong over to her and curled up beside her, crying and crying, but slowly the crying stopped. "We stayed with her for about half an hour. I was afraid she would start up again when we left so I asked her if it was OK if Zoe left and she said she was OK now." At OTMH, Zoe spends her time visiting patients in rehabilitation and the psychiatric ward as well as any rooms with children. She also goes to the Ian Anderson House hospice and Lighthouse Program for Grieving Children. When Armstrong took over the therapy dog program four years ago there were only two dogs. Now she has 55 volunteers visiting a variety of places, including schools and libraries, ErinoakKids, SENACA seniors program, Christian Horizons and Community Living Oakville. "You lose dogs because some get sick or old or their owners move away, but I have a core of very faithful volunteers," Armstrong said. Last night, 18 therapy dogs were at Sheridan College where students were able to take a break from their studies by spending some time with the calming canines. "It would be incredible if one day we could have our dogs actually with students while they were taking exams. They would certainly provide a calming effect," Armstrong said. It takes a special kind of dog to become a therapy dog, Armstrong said. All prospective candidates are evaluated through 12 different tests such as being able to sit calmly while being petted, reacting well with other dogs, not barking or jumping up on people when approached, being able to walk without pulling away and not reacting to noise or crowded situations. "Sometimes when we're visiting people with disabilities they make loud noises or shout out and our dogs have to remain calm," Armstrong said. An additional test is given to dogs, who will be working with children, Armstrong said. "They really have to have nerves of steel. They can't be afraid of anything," Armstrong said. "Children are children, but the dogs aren't supposed to react to anything." Armstrong has had Zoe since the pooch was two months old. "She was always very calm and somebody told me she would make a good therapy dog," Armstrong said. "She just loves people." Various breeds make good therapy dogs. From Shih Tzus to German Shepherds and pugs. So far no owner of a Pit Bull has ever applied. "But we've had Chihuahuas try, but not pass the test," Armstrong said. "Little dogs have a harder time passing...." To see Zoe at work, check out https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=K2YQOM6BZaQ NEIL OLIVER Vice ­President and Group Publisher DAVID HARVEY Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Halton Region Editor in Chief Volume 52 | Number 40 447 Speers Road, Oakville ON (905) 845-3824 Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone (416) 340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Advertising Department (905) 845-3824 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4444 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 DANIEL BAIRD Director of Advertising ANGELA BLACKBURN Managing Editor