TulsaPets Magazine November 2022

November / December 2022 • TulsaPets 21 Therapetics Service Dogs Canines Help People with Disabilities by Anna Holton-Dean Photos courtesy of Therapetics Service Dogs of Oklahoma A llyson Anderson was born with a rare, debilitating disorder which eventually took her ability to walk, requiring the use of a wheelchair. Her lack of mobility made everyday tasks harder and sometimes impossible. Coincidentally, a little more than two years ago, her son’s friend was training a service dog for Therapetics Service Dogs of Oklahoma. Anderson reached out for more information and soon began to apply for a service dog. “For me, the process went really quickly. My dog Angel happened to be available because she’s a smaller dog. It only took about six weeks before we finished the whole process. Angel has saved my life, not just with her skills but emotionally; she makes me feel safe.” Because of Therapetics’ impact on her quality of life, Anderson began to vol- unteer for Therapetics and is now the client-selection chairperson and board member-at-large. “My family would say my life has completely improved since Angel, and it’s why I have become so passionate,” she says. “It’s so rewarding to give my time, and I’m the one that gets to chair up the selection from our applications when there’s a dog available. I’ve placed three dogs that I’ve selected for clients. Hearing all the clients talk about how their dogs have improved their quality of life, it’s a rewarding thing to be a part of. I wanted to pay back an organization that changed my life and help other people have the same experience.” Therapetics is a Tulsa-based nonprofit that serves the greater Oklahoma area. Susan Bello Phariss founded Therapet- ics in 1992. She had a dream to build a high-quality school for service dogs in Oklahoma so people with disabilities could live more independently. The organization focuses on training mobility and PTSD service dogs. Volunteers in a variety of lo- cations train dogs to provide a wide range of experiences to serve clients. Types of Service Dogs Mobility-assistance service dogs are trained to perform tasks to help with everyday chores that are made difficult by limited mobility. Tasks include opening doors, car- rying a bag, picking up dropped objects, and emptying the clothes dryer. PTSD service dogs (or psychiatric ser- vice dogs) are trained to perform specific tasks to help reduce the symptoms of PTSD, such as turning on lights so a veter- an does not have to walk into a dark room; sitting or staying in a particular position to create a physical barrier that protects a veteran’s sense of safe space; and alerting the veteran if a person is approaching, thus reducing the veteran’s hypervigilance by providing a sense of security. “Ninety-five percent of the dogs come from breeders and are donated,” Anderson says. “Typically for service work, we prefer German Shepherds, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and standard Poodles or Doodles. Doodles and Poodles are hypoallergenic for people with allergies; my dog (Angel) is a Doodle.” Therapetics takes in dogs at eight weeks old and tests them to identify whether each dog is a good prospect for service work. If the dog is a good candidate, it is in the training program for 18 months, ideally. Left, Allyson Anderson says her Therapetics canine, Angel, “makes me feel safe.”Anderson now volunteers for Therapetics.