BAYOU BUDDIES - Pet Therapy Program
Louisiana Capital City Obedience Club
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Mission
To brighten someone’s day through the human-animal experience. Purpose of Pet Therapy with LCCOC
To share with the community, our network of caring individuals and their dogs;
To build connections between volunteers and community organizations seeking pet therapy;
To increase awareness and p
rovide education about the many benefits of pet therapy. Handlers
Our handlers are all volunteers sponsored by the Louisiana Capital City Obedience Club. The volunteers are committed to treating those we serve with compassion, dignity, and ethical practices. The volunteers are screened with their dogs to determine a match with our program. Animals - Dogs
All the dogs have been well-trained in obedience with many holding AKC titles in Pet Therapy, Obedience, Agility, and/or Trick Dog. The dogs range in breed, size, and age, but all are well-behaved and seasoned pet therapy dogs. Many of the dogs/handlers are applying for additional levels of AKC titles in Pet Therapy. Where We Serve
LCCOC Pet Therapy Program schedules regular visits to senior living facilities but also participate in monthly or yearly festivals, library and school visits, and general community gatherings. We are asked by many organizations for visits, but we tend to stay within the Baton Rouge area. We are an American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized Pet Therapy Dog organization. Therapy Teams
Our therapy dog teams provide unconditional love, offer friendship, boost self-esteem, reduce anxiety, provide solace, and relieve loneliness and boredom for children and adults in a wide variety of gatherings. There is never a fee for using our pet therapy service. We pride ourselves on being a part of LCCOC, an all-volunteer 501(c) (7) non-profit social organization. Support Dogs
Therapy dogs are different from service dogs, emotional support dogs, and facility dogs. A pet therapy dog’s primary purpose is to provide affection and support to all different types of people, including members of the general public. A therapy dog is trained in basic obedience skills; enjoys working with people; and must pass an evaluation to become part of the LCCOC therapy team. Therapy dogs are not trained to assist one person with a mental or physical disability. Instead, they promote health and wellness to all different types of people. For more information contact the LCCOC Pet Therapy Coordinator:
[email protected]
