Members of the Rotary Club of Boksburg Lake were recently visited by Top Dogs, during a meeting which was held at the Boksburg Rugby Club.
President Angie Thornton of Top Dogs, which deals with therapy dogs, gave an entertaining and informative presentation about the value these dogs bring to circumstances where humans often need a little help with their therapeutic efforts.
Thornton became involved with therapy dogs in 2004 and then established Top Dogs in 2008.
In 2016, she was recognised by Rotary as a Paul Harris Fellow for her work with Top Dogs and she was also the president of the Benoni Van Ryn Rotary Anns Club in 2002 and 2003.
- Top Dogs is involved with three programmes:
• Animal-assisted activities: Therapy animals (mainly dogs) make therapeutic visits to hospitals, hospices and retirement homes to bring company, support, stress relief or stimulation or as a distraction from pain or infirmity to those they visit.
• Animal-assisted therapy: Therapy animals work one-on-one, along with a healthcare professional, counsellor or teacher, in a structured rehabilitation, counselling or learning programme that is goal orientated and documented.
• Animal educational programmes: Therapy dogs visit schools and children’s organisations to teach about the care and needs of animals.
Learn more about Top Dogs and their activities at www.therapytopdogs.co.za
Anyone interested in joining Rotary can contact Martin Stokes on 082 891 8180 or Noel Wauchope on 082 486 7330.
