CANINES WHO CARE
Do you know a group of people in need of some cuddly companionship? Meet our Canines Who Care! This wonderful team of dogs, and their handlers, are on a mission to make you smile.
If you're interested in having one of our Canines Who Care team members visit your organization or if you can help support our program, please contact Leslie Hutson, leslie@pawsshelter.org
JOIN THE PAWS CANINES WHO CARE TEAM!
If you enjoy working with your dog and your dog enjoys socializing with people, then the PAWS Shelter Canines Who Care dog therapy program might be just what you are looking for! We are currently looking for new members to join the team. This wonderful team of handlers and their dogs will visit local schools, hospitals, nursing homes, etc. to help spread smiles & cheer!
All potential Canines Who Care Therapy Dogs should have their basic skills down pat and have a GREAT relationship with their human handler. We do not have any breed restrictions. To graduate the program you will need to:
- Attend all the training classes (approximately 4 or 5 one hour long classes)
- Pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen Test (Click here to view)
- Visit CWC sites under supervision of a current CWC Team until approved.
Join us for a candidate meet & greet where we can meet you and your dog and review the Canine Good Citizen Test items and talk!
We schedule Meet and Greets for Potential Therapy Dogs roughly 3 times a year – to find out when the next one is or to find out more about the program contact please email: Leslie_hutson@pawsshelter.org
MEET THE TEAM
Stephanie & Kelly
Kelly is a 7-year old Curly-Coated Retriever. She and I have been a team since she took her first breath. She was the only puppy in her littler. Her mama wasn’t interested in raising her so I bottle fed and hand raised her. That is how she got her registered name, Ayershire She’s One Hot Mess. “Kelly”, because my favorite color is green. We enjoy participating in many sports including Conformation, Obedience, Rally, Agility and Hunting (birds, shed antlers & rats) I have been involved in therapy work with my dogs since the mid 1990’s and enjoy sharing the unconditional love of a dog to others.
Sherilynn & Tucker
When Tucker joined our family in 202, I knew there was something extra-special about him. He fit right into our family, which includes three (human) boys and two blind cats. He has the sweetest, most easy- going disposition (his foster mom accurately described him as “chill”), making therapy dog work a natural path for him. Each visit is a joyful and fulfilling experience for both Tucker and myself. It’s amazing how many smiles appear when a dog walks into a room! Sharilynn & Tucker joined The Canines Who Care as a team in 2022.
Jyl Hershman-Ross & Dash
After working in radio, playing in bands, teaching Middle School English classes and working in the Texas heat training hundreds of dogs for other people, Jyl ended up coming to PAWS and asking if she could just bring her love of working with people and animals and the work she does with Training and TTouch to PAWS Shelter. She brings her 18+ years of experience to the PAW Up program and also trains the Canines Who Care Therapy Dog teams. She dedicates this work to her former partner, Vito, who adored affection and loved being part of a team that brings love and joy to others.
Credentials: CPDT-KA, Level 3 Tellington TTouch Companion Animal Practioner
Chelsea & Ralph
Ralph, a former shelter dog at PAWS, ca best be described as a gentle giant, who loves nothing more than to receive all the pets and be a couch-cuddling-companion. He and his human, Chelsea, are new additions to the Canines Who Care Team.
Debbie & Cooper
I’ve always had labs, primarily female & I had planned on getting another female lab puppy after my older girl passed away in 2012. Plans changed, so I started my quest for a male lab that could co-exist with my girl even though that wasn’t really what I wanted! In September of 2012, I adopted Cooper from PAWS and I quickly learned why he was probably at PAWS! He is the most mischievous do I have ever owned but it’s absolutely part of his charm! He’s definitely my furry soulmate!
Debbie & Callie
We are here to hopefully make your day brighter. Callie was adopted on Nov. 21, 2022 from PAWS shelter. We live in Johnson City and love to see, and spread, smiles!
Mandy & Ruthie
Ruthie is the poster girl for rescue Staffys…things did not start off well for her. She was used as a puppy machine and for other not so nice things and then discarded (literally, by the side of the road) and you would think that she would hate people, but no. When rescue picked her up and tended to her wounds and saw to her needs, she responded with kisses and huge smiles. Mandy knew from the minute that she saw her that Ruthie was the dog for her. And from that day forward, everywhere they go they bring love and joy! Mandy & Ruthie have been with Canines Who Care since 2022.
Lucienne & Nelson
Nelson is an 8 yr old Miniature Poodle and has been sharing his sweet sassy brand of love in therapy situations since he was barely a year old. Saying that Nelson is “food motivated” is an understatement, and he will do pretty much anything for a treat! He loves to show off his tricks and to make you smile. I love seeing how Nelson's sweet and gentle personality can brighten someone's face and maybe make their day a little easier. Dogs really can accomplish what humans can't. We are thrilled to be joining the Canines Who Care team!
Elizabeth & Colter
Deidre & Rowdy
My name is Diedre and I am the lucky dog mom to this guy right here. Meet Rowdy, the German Shorthaired Pointer that nobody wanted because of his “ butterfly nose”. I knew the first day that I brought Rowdy home in September of 2023 that he was something special.
Rowdy lives life to the fullest every single day. He loves learning, working, swimming, birds, squirrels, treats, and balls. His smile is contagious and the way his whole body wiggles with joy will brighten anyone’s day.
Rowdy reminds me daily to live life to the fullest. His “butterfly nose” made him undesirable to others but to me it is my favorite thing about him.
Karen Jones & Deuce
JD & Ralph
Virginia & Chamito
Virginia is Chilean by birth, Texan by the Grace of God!
When Virginia was ready to search for a four-legged friend, she had often wondered about how to go about choosing a puppy but had been told that it would be the other way around, the puppy would choose HER, and that’s exactly what happened.
Chamito, which means “best buddy” in Venezuelan slang, is a four-year-old Aussie, the runt of his litter, intelligent, kind, with unbridled exuberance being off-leash in the woods and trails around their hometown of Buda.
Jessica & Trip
Trip came into my clinic almost 2 years ago after being hit by a car. He made it through the night only to discover a leg so badly broken, amputation was his only option. Hence, a Tripod joined our family. Trip has not looked back for one minute, astounding just about anyone with his speed and also his compassion. Trip loves to love and I know he can help a lot of people by doing just that.
Kristin & Hank
Alex with Simon & Cody
Alex and Cody are one of our newest teams. Simon, however, is a very experienced Therapy Dog, having worked with another therapy dog group in the past. While he LOOKS like a polar bear, he's actually a Great Pyrenees / St. Bernard mix whose day job is working on a farm protecting chickens with his dad Wilbur. Simon takes his protection job as seriously as his snuggling job and loves to just lay down and have people come to him.
Hillary & Evie
Lauren & Coco
Jaime & Tito
Mike & Astro
John & Sophie
Your Name Here!
If you're interested in having one of our Canines Who Care team members visit your organization or if you can help support our program, please contact Leslie Hutson, leslie@pawsshelter.org
ENDLESS GRATITUDE TO OUR RETIREES
Sandy & Pearl
It has been said that not all Angels have wings, some have 4 paws. Living proof of that is our adopted dog, Pearl. We adopted Pearl ( formerly Violet) from PAWS. Pearl's stature is large, she's a Pyrenees Mix, but her heart and capacity to spread love and joy is exponentially larger than her size!
Celeste & Walter
Walter adopted me on November 17, 2015. I was volunteering at the PAWS shelter when I saw little Walter in his kennel. I sat with him in the kennel and he climbed onto my lap. We've been buddies since. I'm recently retired and thought the Canine Care program would be a good fit. Walter likes stuffed toys, riding in the car and cuddles. We look forward to participating in this program.
FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS
Jyl & Vito
In loving memory of Vito.
