By Liz R. Kover
Animal Assisted Activities Director Marleys Mutts Dog Rescue
Miracle Mutts
It's a Dog's Life
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Andrew rewards Bella for giving him eye contact.
Miracle Mutts is Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue's Outreach and Education division, and involves the community at many levels. First of all, we offer dogs with the right temperament -- who are able to pass the Canine Good Citizen and Community Canine tests through the AKC -- a spot on our Miracle Mutts Therapy Dog team! Marley's Mutts is the first and only dog rescue sanctioned by the American Kennel Club to certify therapy dogs through their titling program! In order to be eligible for the title (from our end), the dog-handler teams have to earn 50 hours of community service! Within our program, that means providing community service in any number of ways: through bringing comfort and love to children with autism and other developmental disabilities, reading with kids at the library, visiting elderly residents at senior centers and assisted living facilities, educating kids about responsible pet ownership during assemblies and classroom visits, and helping teach vocational skills to men and women recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, folks getting back on their feet after living life on the streets, and women reentering the workforce after escaping abusive relationships.
If ever there was a WIN-WIN-WIN (on and on, infinitely-winning) scenario, this is it! The vast majority of our Miracle Mutts, themselves, once lived life on the streets, are disabled in some way or another, have lived through abuse, abandonment, and life without happiness, health, or opportunities to thrive. When we bring - as Zach would say - "throw away dogs" together with their counterparts in human society, miracles happen. Fears are faced and surmounted. Confidence is built. Self-respect and strength are forged. LOVE and LIFE and LIGHT abound!
Some of the dogs in our program, who may not yet be ready to begin working toward therapy dog status due to fear, anxiety, or even mild aggression issues, are still able to participate. They join us each week atThe Mission at Kern County, where a group of wonderful guys in the Men's program help us socialize them with the more even-tempered, mellow, confident dogs. The guys always tell me how Thursday is their favorite day of the week because they get to interact with the dogs. My answer to that is always, MINE TOO! No matter what else might be going on, stressing me out, dragging me down...I can always count on these Dog-Handler-Community Member scenarios to remind me that miracles are all around us; we simply must tap into the source and participate in the magic!
Dog Speed, Liz R. Kover
Liz Kover is an Animal-Assisted Activities Director, Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue Service Dog Trainer and with Good Dog Autism Companions.
