Touching lives a paw at a time
Touch Our Pets (Top) Dogs, a voluntary therapy dogs organisation based in Benoni, prides itself on spreading joy and hope to the needy with therapy dogs.
The dogs, through the various Top Dog programmes, make visits to various facilities including hospitals, frail care centres, children’s homes and homeless shelter to improve the quality of life of those they meet.
“As our motto suggests, our motivation is to spread smiles for miles and to cheer the sick,” said Top Dogs president Angie Thornton.
To help improve reading, the organisation also offers animal-assisted therapy, where the dogs work one-on-one with school pupils, alongside a professional.
The children read to the dogs in a calming, non-judgmental environment, and also gain knowledge on how to interact safely with the animals.
The dogs are chosen for their friendly attitudes towards people and animals.
They are all family pets and usually belong to the handler.
To make certain of their suitability, the dogs undergo an intensive evaluation and also complete a probationary period.
Top Dogs adheres to a strict health and hygiene code, so that the animals are clean enough to make hospital visits.
The organisation offers animal educational programmes that teach “bite avoidance” and how to take care of dogs properly.
For Top Dogs, it is rewarding to see children, who were once afraid of the dogs, smile confidently while interacting with them at the end of the programme.
Their other programmes involve rehabilitation of both children and adults, following illnesses or accidents.
Top Dogs is looking for volunteers with a suitable dog and a few hours a month to spare.
The dogs do not have to be pedigreed, as the organisation has all shapes, sizes and types of dogs.
A stable temperament is their most important attribute.
For more information, contact Thornton on 083 715 5344.
