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Randy and Beau Beau is a ShihTzu poodle mix who was born in September, 2014. He and his human, Randy, have been a therapy team since 2018. Together Beau and Randy visit the senior scenter, the Montrose public libary, and the Montrose High School for "Therapy Thursdays". When Randy and Beau aren't visiting, they enjoy doing "just about anything together", including hiking. Beau enjoys people, toys, and playing. Randy is semi-retired, and a self-described "people person". Nikki and Mason Mason is a mini-schnauzer, born on January 23, 2017. He was certified with Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Inc., on September 4, 2018. Mason and Nikki enjoy visiting Hospice care patients in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. When they are not making visits, they go "walking, walking, walking, 7 days a week, exploring every sidewalk, pathway, park, and open land in the county." In the evenings, after all that exercise, Mason enjoys "laying on Mom's lap to be loved on." Nikki says, "He's spoiled rotten, and he's a great traveler." Sharon and Scooby My name is Sharon, and this is my dog Scooby. Scooby is a Rhodesian Riegeback mix, and was born in October 2012. He is a rescue dog. We have been a therapy dog team since 2018. Scooby mostly enjoys working with children. We like to do story time at different elementary schools, and we have also made many visits to nursing homes, businesses, and the Montrose High School for Therapy Thursdays. In his spare time, Scooby likes to go for rides in the car into the mountains to go camping, and he enjoys playing with my grandchildren. We have thorougly enjoyed being a therapy dog team and look forward to making many more visits! Ann and Theo, Zoey,and Sophie Ann has had therapy dogs since 2005 when she trained her first therapy dog, Nikki. She saw the powerful effect a dog could have on people while working with children. Since she is a teacher, she has used her dogs to motivate children to read, or calm children down, and even to help second language learners learn English. Sometimes their first words are "dog". For ten years at Oak Grove Elementary, Ann had a reading program with her dogs and saw great gains in her students' reading. Now her Westies come to Centennial Middle Schoo. They also visit retirement and nursing homes and the Montrose Public Library. Her newest therapy dogs are Theo, Zoey and Sophie. They like to go on walks and watch dog movies. Terri and Zia Terri Huntley’s Australian Shepherd, Zia, was born on May 5, 2010, and has been certified as a therapy dog since she was a year old. Currently Terri and Zia visit Montrose Public Library for the “Read to Rover” program. When they are not making visits, they enjoy walking together, hanging out at the river, and going kayaking. If it’s not too hot, they enjoy going to the dog park. Terri says, “A fun fact about Zia is that she loves dried pineapple”. Zia’s favorite toy is a stuffed sheep. Joy and Topper: Joy, a retired elementary school teacher, first became interested in therapy dog work when therapy dogs visited her parents in assisted living. When she saw the joy the dogs brought to her Mom and Dad, she wanted to get involved with this volunteer program. Topper, a Labrador/pit bull mix was adopted from the Montrose Animal Shelter in 2013 when she was a year old. She has been registered with Therapy Dogs, Inc., (now Alliance for Therapy Dogs) since March of 2014, and since then has made many visits to nursing homes, assisted living, the House of Promise day care center, elementary schools, Montrose High School for Therapy Thursdays, and Community Options (her very favorite place to visit). When she is not visiting, Topper loves to play ball, go on long walks, snuggle with her kitties, get ear rubs, and take long, dream-filled naps. Paula and Gus I'm Paula Brown, originally from New Mexico and now living in Montrose since 1980. I have worked at a savings and loan, at social services, raised kids, and was on the board of Habitat for Humanity for 12 years. I've been married to Ed Brown for over 20 years. Our first therapy dog was a Boston bull named Maggie who lived with us for 14 years. Maggie and I became members of the Morningstar Therapy Dogs groups soon after it was formed, and I was active in helping with classes, demonstrations, and events with the group. Maggie and I enjoyed the Read to Rover program at local schools. As Maggie began to slow down and retired from therapy work, Gus became our next therapy dog in 2011. He too is now retired after several years of faithful service. Though I don't have an active therapy dog at this time, I remain a supporting member of Morningstar Therapy Dogs. Sue and Mackenzie: Mackenzie is a golden retriever, born in August 2014 in Bozeman, Montana. She lives in Montrose with Sue Danner. She is the third Danner therapy dog. Tessa, Kenzie's "aunt" and the late Adobe, had worked with Sue at the Center for Mental Health for 14 years. When Sue and Tessa retired, Sue wanted to continue the therapy dog work by getting Kenzie certified. They visit people in nursing homes, where Kenzie has a number of special friends. Kenzie interacts with children at the CASA office (Court-Appointed Special Advocates) at which Sue is a volunteer, and Kenzie especially enjoys hearing stories children read to her at the library in the Reading to Rover Program. Sue and Kenzie have also participated in "Therapy Thursdays" at the Montrose High School. In her recreation time she likes to play with several other doggie friends, and she will fetch a ball until she is ready to drop. Marcia and Macee Macee is a Schnoodle (Schnauzer and Poodle) born on October 3, 2012. She was certified as a therapy dog in 2014 (I think) and together we visit the Montrose Public Library, Montrose Memorial Hospital, Montrose High School, Hope West patients in nursing homes, and listen to 2nd graders at Cottonwood Elementary School read aloud. We like to do agility together. Macee has advanced to the Master's level in agility. She has been recognized by AKC as an "Achiever Dog" because she has titles in Obedience, Rally and Agility. She is nearing retirement from agility and is now training in Scent Work which she likes because she gets lots of treats! Macee is very family focused! She loves being with us, being held and is a good snuggler. She likes to bark! She loves treats! And she likes going on frequent walks around the neighborhood. Marcia was a United Airlines flight attendant for 32 years and then worked 10 years at Montrose County as a Case Worker. She has been married to Bill since 1976. Vanessa and Layla Layla is a Yorkie, born on November 22, 2016. She and Vanessa were certified as a therapy team in 2018. When Vanessa and Layla go on therapy visits, they visit Hope West Hospice patients, Montrose High School, Sunrise Creek Assisted Living, and the hospital. During their free time, they enjoy going on walks and playing soccer. Vanessa says, “Layla is just the sweetest girl! She loves everyone she meets. I feel like therapy work is what she was born to do. She gets sooooo excited when I tell her we are going on a visit. She knows she’s about to get some lovin’! I love seeing the faces of people who meet Layla. Their eyes just light up. It makes my heart so happy. I have always been the type of person to help out wherever I am needed. Therapy work is right up my alley. I love kids and the elderly, so this works fills my heart with joy!” Karen and Gunner Gunner is a mini Australian Shepherd , born on October 8, 2020. His owner, Karen Wallis, got Gunner after the passing of her Black Lab, Jet, who was a therapy dog for several years. Gunner and Karen are currently doing ongoing training in order for him to take the test to become a nationally certified therapy dog when he is old enough. Gunner enjoys meeting new people, playing, and going for car rides. Together Gunner and Karen enjoy playing together, going for walks, and visiting. Karen is retired, and says her animals keep her busy, but she also loves to read. Sue and Bella The greatest gift one can give is to share their four-legged companion with others. Therapy work gives us that opportunity to visit a facility where residents can no longer manage a pet on their own, provide those stressed out by life’s events a chance to embrace a willing furry friend, and provide an environment where children can share their favorite story without judgment. I started this journey late for my dear Bella who is now fourteen. She was a rescue – live trapped in a round about in Silt, CO. This Miniature Pinscher/Chihuahua mix spent the first 10 years of her life cuddling with us and on occasion cuddling in the lap of our visitors. Then one day, a friend said she was such a sweetheart that she would make a great therapy dog. So, it happened. Bella was certified and spent two years at Oak Grove School listening to students’ favorite books, at the library doing the same, and several times visiting the high school where students cuddled her in their arms. COVID stopped the visits, and now she is getting older and ready to be at home. While waiting for things to be safe again for visits, Layla, a Springer Spaniel, came into our lives in the fall 2019. A rambunctious puppy, Layla is finally settling down with a lot of frisbee exercise. I expect that she will be ready to take over her sister’s role in the future. Layla has shown she is a gentle spirit with lots of love to give. Until she is ready, our hearts go out to all those waiting for the next visit with our beloved four-legged friends. |
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Karen and Jet- Jet is a Labrador retriever, now retired from therapy dog visiting. Karen and Jet registered in 2008. They visited local schools, nursing homes, the library, and participated in many events and fund raisers for therapy dogs. Jet loves everyone and has to say hi to anyone he sees.
Shane and Maddy- Shane and Maddy have been registered as a Therapy Dog team since October 2013. Maddison is a border collie who loves to play with her tennis balls when she isn't listening to kids read.
Judy, Joe, and Reggie- Reggie is known around town as the dog that sticks his head out the moon roof of the car. The view must be more to his liking. He is a standard poodle-- 90% legs. He enjoys his visits everywhere and is a loving, friendly, sweet boy.
Karen and Bree Greg and Duchess Pat and Midas Margie and Brody Hannah and Chance
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Carolyn and Molly: We were so fortunate to have Miss Molly join our family Jan 31, 2008. It all started on Valentine's Day when she was being taken out before bedtime by my husband, Bill. It had snowed and blown very badly that day. Slippery stairs resulted in Molly and Bill falling down When my husband was in the hospital, one of the nurses knew about our puppy and asked if I would like to have Molly come up to the ICU one Sunday afternoon. Our nurse asked if we would let her take Molly around to see the other patients that might need a "puppy fix". That was the beginning of Molly as a therapy dog. During a visit to our vet, she suggested that Molly would make a perfect therapy dog. When she was old enough to be certified, she began bringing much love to many people in our community. This ranged from children in the school library that read to her, to many of the elderly in various facilities. Miss Molly has been doing this for around eight years and is a real joy!
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Bill and Daisy
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Laura, Smoke, and Jessie
Audrey and Micky Moto
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