Hi! My name is Karen. I am the Secretary for Caring Paws. I have been involved with Therapy Dogs for 9 years now. I got my first dog, Misha, at the lowest point in my life. Once he was trained, I decided to get him certified as a Therapy Dog to share with others the joy and comfort he brought to me. Little Mish and I visited Andover Sub Acute & Rehab Center for 7 years together. Back then, it was only the two of us. Occasionally, someone would join us for a few weeks or months and then fade away.
  I am so grateful to have met Donna Riley-Sweet and hooked up with Caring Paws. We now have approximately 35 human members, probably close to 50 canine, and visit over 10 facilities. It is so much more enjoyable to go on visits with other dog and handler teams.
   Since then, I certified Tori, who was a remarkable Therapy Dog. I've never witnessed such compassion and sensitivity in another dog (or human, for that matter *smile*). Tori has passed on to the Rainbow Bridge, but she left her paw print on the hearts of all she visited.
   My current dogs, Pierce & Cinder were certified last year. Both have received their TDIA titles/certificates from Therapy Dogs International, Inc. for accumulating 50 documented therapy visits. Cinder gets everyone to give her belly rubs and hates to leave when the visit is over. Pierce likes to shake hands with everyone and does a few tricks.
   We also participate in educational programs about dog safety & therapy work and booths at community events to promote awareness about, and the importance of, Therapy Dogs.
   Seeing the smiles on the faces of the people we visit is so rewarding. We get back so much more than we give!

Author Karen L Vogt.

  Top 10 Reasons Why It's Great to Be a Dog:

1) If it itches, you can reach it. And no matter where it itches, no one will be offended if you scratch it in public.
2) No one notices if you have hair growing in weird places as you get older.
3) Personal hygiene is a blast: No one expects you to take a bath every day, and you don't even have to comb your own hair.
4) Having a wet nose is considered a sign of good health.
5) No one thinks less of you for passing gas. Some people might actually think you're cute!
6) Who needs a big home entertainment system? A bone or an old shoe can entertain you for hours.
7) You can spend hours just smelling stuff.
8) No one ever expects you to pay for lunch or dinner. You never have to worry about table manners, and if you gain weight, it's someone else's fault.
9) It doesn't take much to make you happy. You're always excited to see the same old people. All they have to do is leave the room for five minutes and come back!
10) Every garbage can looks like a cold buffet to you.

Author Unknown

  Pier 94 NYC, 11/12/01:

Today I went to Pier 94 in NYC. I went with my Therapy Dog and amazing friend DeJaVu Kodak Moment CD, CGC, TDI a.k.a. "Flash". We were also joined by Caring Paws TDI Chapter 126 members Jan Biber, her Therapy Dog Beach Bum Maggie CGC, TDI (working on CD) a.k.a. Maggie, and Sandy our city escort better known as Jan's Hubby. It was a few hours I will never forget, very rewarding and eye opening and moving to say the least.

Our day started out with Flash and I going to my work. It was a difficult decision as to which of my four Therapy Dogs to bring. My husband and I discussed the situation and things I may encounter on our way and decided that Flash was the most suited for this trip. He is very adaptable and seems to accept new and strange things with ease and confidence . I was scheduled to work from 10am to 1pm then leaving to go to the Pier. On the way to work I heard on the radio about the plane that crashed in Far Rockaway, NY. I thought "Oh my goodness not again". Then I thought maybe it was not as it seems as the area to me did not seem like a likely place for a terror attack to take place. I got to work, called TDI, and they said all visits to Pier canceled for today. I called Jan and then settled Flash in the Birthday Party Room at my Hobby store. Well, after a while, I was in touch with TDI again and they said "YES COME IN the bridges are open again". I called Jan and we went back to our original plan to meet and hop on the ferry to NYC.

Once we told the deck hands who we were, showed I.D., and told them where we were going and why, they allowed us on the boat. Usually dogs are not allowed on in less they are are small animals kept in carriers. The dogs were so good on the boat. Some of you may have ridden on that thing, it makes a rumbling noise and is a rather jolt for a start. The dogs sort of looked at me and Jan asking if things were okay. We assured them we were fine and gave them a Milk Bone to make it a positive experience for them. The walk from the ferry was about 20 blocks or 1 mile . It was a good walk as it let the dogs use some energy and get used to the strange smells of the city (unusual to country dogs LOL) .

I thought I would be afraid walking in the city, I am like in culture shock in the city not my area to be... It was not a scary area and there were a lot of police around. Speaking of police, it was very chilling and a real reality check to see armed guards with machine guns strapped to them near the entrance to the Ferry parking there was also a military Hummer vehicle there. Once at the building we signed in at the FEMA booth as instructed by Therapy Dogs International Founder Urlsa Kempt. Later on we signed in at the ASPCA booth as well. The building was much quieter than usual due to the plane crash earlier in Far Rockaway and the fact that Veterans Day was being observed. Still there were many who needed the dogs.

The building is split into the City area where people needing homes because they lived near Ground Zero and are displaced and folks who have lost their jobs go for counseling and help. Then there was the Family area where families go for counseling and legal help and to pick up death certificates. Now we began our work. There were so many Red Cross workers who come from all over the U.S. to help. Many far away from home quickly approaching the dogs and saying "Oh I need my Doggy Fix". We heard about dogs waiting for their return at home as they petted and played with Flash and Maggie. One Red Cross Volunteer came up to Flash she asked his name and what kind of dog he was and was petting him and she asked if he could jump up on her. I told her if she invited him to and wanted him to. So she tapped her chest and up went Flash. Well she just smiled and then she knelt down on the floor and Flash did just what I knew he would do he put his paws right up on her shoulders and gave one of his Big Flash Hugs!!! This behavior he got from his wonderful father "Roper". The girl just hugged him back and tears came down her face. He just let her hug him for a few seconds then he licked her and she began to giggle and laugh, the big fur ball had sucked up some of her tension and made her day a bit better. She thanked me and went off with a smile. We saw her again later on and she brought one of her friends over for an Aussie Hug too. Flash was just happy to give another.

We visited with another man who was very upset about the whole WTC event and further distressed by the events in Rockaway earlier in the day. He had returned to the Red Cross Area for counseling. One of the workers asked if we would come and visit with him and so we did. He liked Maggie but took a special liking to Flash . Flash seemed to sense this man's need for a friend he sat right down by him and let the man pet and speak to him. We talked about Flash and where he came from and how he was trained. We spoke about the area in which we lived and the man told me that people like me and animals like Flash and Maggie made him see not everyone was bad and there was good in the world still. He asked if he could feed Flash so out came the Milk Bones. So Flash shook his hand and wiggled his little tail less butt away. The man laughed so hard at his little butt wiggling away. He told me that today was a good day because he had made two new friends Flash and myself. He thanked Flash first of course and then me. The whole 20 minutes or so we spent with man was right near a guarded door. The Police Lady standing guard was watching and smiling as we visited, then as we walked away she scratched Flash's head and said "Your a beautiful and special dog boy". Flash just wiggled at her touch.

We met another little boy who wanted to feed the dogs cookies as he woofed at them and laughed. We visited with a little girl who really took to Maggie while her older sister was petting Flash. As Maggie and Jan continued the visit with the child I was called over by some Red Cross Workers and Flash gave some of his hugs which had by now become famous with the RC workers and he shook hands and got a handful of goldfish crackers too!!! We met a woman who had lost her husband and was going to get a dog when things were in order in her life. She wanted to find a dog already mature and house trained she liked collies and I told her about rescue and where to look on the computer to find a rescue in her area. Many people asked what breed Flash was it took their minds off their jobs for a bit to hear what an Australian Shepherd was and what he was breed to do etc... Many laughed for a minute as he wiggled away in the way only an Aussie can wiggle. They smiled as he looked at them with tilted head asking for a treat if they were eating something, (he usually got himself a bite too, who could resist) . It was very touching to see big Police Officers and Fire Department Personnel in full uniform stopping to pet and smile at the dogs. Many an officer ruffled ears and commented on how well behaved and beautiful the dogs were.

One thing that touched me personally , an image I will not forget was a wall in the building. There were pictures and messages to people lost in the rubble of the WTC buildings , we saw it on the way to the rest rooms. Notes from children to their Dads or Moms, notes to brothers, sisters, daughters and sons, friends you name it... Below the photos and posters and notes was a line of Teddy Bears sent by the children of Oklahoma City to those in New York City, a symbol of hope, love and sympathy. One note with two stuffed beanie baby dogs taped to the wall near it said We Love You and we Miss you Daddy Love your two daughters. Pictures with pleas of If You see this person call......... And the one that Will never forget I don't know it just stuck with me as I drove home. I saw it again and again. A picture 8x10 of a man, he was squatting down with a German Shepherd Dog sitting between his bent knees, no note just the image. The image that gave a personality to the "missing". It brought home the reality of the people whose lives were lost they were no longer just missing you hear about on the news they were real people like us with real families missing them. It really sunk in then.

We were giving back to our country by helping these people heal. We were making a difference and playing a part in the reconstruction of their lives. My dog Flash was so good he was like a sponge soaking up tears and stress and replacing it with a smile. He willingly road a ferry boat (he had never seen anything like that before), he walked quietly down the busy city street (he had never seen that much traffic and confusion before), he passed the horse stable where the carriage horses were coming in after a long days work of pulling folks through the city parks with no problems at all. He willingly and happily let strangers pet and hug him, he stood patiently while we signed in and again while we went through metal detectors and a Police Officer held him for me. He was gentle with children and retrieved a pumpkin for an officer who was being silly and rolled it across the floor toward him. He gave his hugs to those who asked but did not jump on those who did not invite him to. It is very amazing to see these dogs work their magic. Some things are just ment to be I guess. The day after I got Flash my Grandmother passed away. Two months earlier I had lost a young cousin to cancer so Flash began his life with me as a therapy dog licking tears and being hugged by sad and upset relatives. He gave me something positive to focus on during a very sad time in life . We have a special human animal bond. He and I we are a team,m be it obedience competition, or Therapy Dog work or whatever may come our way we can communicate and work well together. My life would not be as good if he was not in it. He truly walks on Caring Paws!!!

Author Donna Riley-Sweet