Welcome to the K-9's for Kids Pediatric Therapy Unit, a division of Fur Persons Chapter #170, part of Therapy Dogs International!  This dedicated group of dogs and handlers donate their time to bring smiles and joy to children suffering from a wide range of physical, emotional, and learning disabilities.  I am pleased to be the trainer in charge of these amazing animals and their devoted owners. 

Originally started in 1999 at the request of the Melha Shrine Unit as a volunteer therapy unit for Shriner's Hospital for Children in Springfield, Massachusetts, the unit has now expanded to also serve other pediatric medical facilities, camp programs, library programs,  and school systems.  The unit currently consist of 30 dogs from Massachusetts and Connecticut, ranging in age from 2 to 12, and includes the following represented breeds: Dachshund, German Shepherds,  Shelties, Rottweilers, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers,  Pug, Collie, Bichon Frise, Havanese, Australian Shepherds, Portugese Water Dogs, Bassett Hound, Border Collie, Miki,  and  All Americans.  In the school enviroment,  the dogs are used to enhance self-esteem by offering non-judgemental, non-threatening attention while enhancing verbalization and improving communication and reading skills. In the hospital setting, the dogs decrease anxiety and stress providing a diversion from hospital routine, stimulate physical activity and social interaction, provide the patient with a sense of control and mastery, and enhance the therapeutic goals for the patient as assessed by the physical/occupational and child life therapists.

All dogs in the unit must  successfully pass the AKC Good Citizenship Test, the Therapy Dog International certification test, and the 7 week Pediatric Therapy Dog Unit Training Class held at Sandy Meadow Farm.  To enter the Pediatric Course, dogs must exhibit excellent social skills around other dogs,  must have moderate obedience skills, and must absolutely adore being around kids.  Dogs must be current on all required vaccinations,  be physically healthy and be properly groomed.

The pediatric course is designed to teach dogs and handlers how to cope with the diverse and often unexpected situations that can arise when working with kids in hospital and school environments.  Not only do we solidify their working knowledge of sit, down, stand, stay, leave it,  and come, but we also teach additional cues that are utilizied during visitations including gotcha, come up, place, beep beep, freeze, gentle,  get back and settle.  Dogs are taught tricks and retrieving for functional and entertainment purposes, as well as exposed to various pieces of medical equipment that they must learn to maneuver and accept.  Groups of approximately 10 - 20 children and their parents are included in the training program from weeks 4 to 7 to teach the dogs to recognize and cope with natural child reactions including crying, grabbing, gripping, avoidance, running, screaming, fear, and hugging.  Each week's focus is on a  different  age group ranging from infants and toddlers through teenagers, teaching various techniques and skills needed to enhance the interaction between  child and  dog. This training process also allows evaluation of the dog and handler in a group setting working with other teams.  Since most of our visitations involve multiple dogs, it is critical that all of the dogs display the necessary social ability and focus to work in that stimulating environment.

It is important to recognize that the training involved to take part in the K-9's for Kids Unit, is NOT required by Therapy Dogs International, but rather is required by the facilities our dogs service. Existing TDI certified teams that wish to visit any of our service locations will have to attend the pediatric training class per hospital/school regulations. There will be additional initial costs beyond the regular TDI registration fees involved with being able to visit these restricted locations including cost for the training class and cost for the identifying uniform ( vest and bandana). It is also important to understand that completing the Pediatric Training Course does not guarantee entrance into the K-9's for Kids unit. There are many factors involved in determining a handler/dog team's suitability to work with children and in this unit.

I am very proud of this program and the dog/handler teams that have chosen to attend the training course and become part of the working unit.  Each visit/session that I attend at the hospitals and at the schools affirms my reason for running this program as I observe the delight and the success of the children that participate. If you would like additional information about the program, please don't hesitate to contact me at K9TrainMa@aol.com or call the school at (413) 572 - 4936.

Melissa Kielbasa

Our Dogs At Work!