ALL ABOUT NS & PEI

This Map shows you where all of the highlighted teams are located!

The Therapy Dog Program has been in Nova Scotia since 1999 and PEI since 2000. Since that time, the program has grown to 230 different teams across the two provinces. The volunteers visit hospitals, schools, vaccine clinics, community programs, parades, trade shows, and so much more!

Nova Scotia & PEI: About

MEET THE TEAMS

Representing Nova Scotia & PEI

Nova Scotia & PEI: Team Members

MARTHA CASSIDY & WALTER

Volunteer since 2011 From Yarmouth, NS

Martha and her teammate Walker are a legendary team in Yarmouth, NS. They have been heavily involved in the program for many years and have been an integral part of welcoming a large group of volunteers to the Tri-County area.

Martha found out about the program from a Seniors Convention that she attended. It just so happened that there was an SJA Therapy Dog Volunteer presenting and since she trained dogs all her life, it piqued her interest. Once she got her dog, Walker, she noticed that he was special and was reminded about the presentation about therapy dogs! He passed the evaluation with flying colors.

An incredible story that Martha shared was of a 103-year-old woman in the Yarmouth Hospital. She was not in the best mood and would not open her eyes to the nurses who were trying to engage with her. The nurses spotted Martha and Walker and gestured for them to come over. They proceeded to place the woman's hand on Walker's back and she immediately opened her eye and yelled "oh my gosh he has curls!". This response shocked everyone and they all started laughing. This gave Martha such a sense of affirmation that she felt that she was meant to be there.

Martha feels that the impact that Therapy Dog volunteers make, echoes on and doesn't end when the visit does.

Thank you, Martha & Walker, for sharing your story!

GARY PATTERSON & RUGBY

Volunteer since 2016 From Truro, NS

Gary's start in this program was due to perfect timing. He had just retired and he and his wife had just lost their previous dog. He came across someone who was looking to rehome their dog, Rugby, and they immediately took him in. They realized that he had some special qualities that would make him a great Therapy Dog. They did some research and found the SJA Therapy Dog Program, and they were off!

Gary and Rugby have been a superstar team in Truro for many years and have made a lasting impact in the community. One story that Gary shared was about a young woman in a facility where he makes regular visits. She had been struggling to find joy in her life, but on the very first visit, Gary noticed that she was smiling, interacting, and just having fun. After the visit concluded he got an email from the facility saying that they are so grateful for his and Rugby's visit because this is the first time in months that they had seen this young woman smile.

Gary says that this program impacted him in such a big way. He finds it therapeutic to watch people feel joy from the work that he and Rugby are doing. He enjoys that pet therapy is a proactive form of therapy that can impact anyone at any time.

Thank you, Gary & Rugby, for sharing your story!

TAMARA MACDUFF, ALLIE, JAKE & WILLOW

Volunteering since 2002 From Antigonish, NS

Surprisingly enough, Tamara's story begins in Newfoundland! After graduating from vet school she moved there and was desperately missing home. Through a chance encounter at the vet, she met an SJA Therapy Dog Volunteer, Bruce Dyke, who suggested that she joins the program with her dog, Allie. When she did, and they began going into the Veteran's Pavilion, Tamara noticed that not only was she bringing joy to these Veterans, but it was also bringing her joy. Eventually, Tamara moved back home to Antigonish and became an integral part of our Therapy Dog Program here with her past dogs Allie and Jake, and her current teammate, Willow.

Tamara has been a part of this program as a volunteer, coordinator, evaluator, and role model for so many others. Throughout her 20 years of experience, she has brought her community an unimaginable amount of support but there was one event that stood out to her.

Back when the STFX University strike was happening, 3 Therapy Dog volunteers visited the students and faculty. To their surprise, they saw over 300 students and staff in only 2 hours. The students were beyond happy to have something fun and positive to do. To Tamara, it was obvious that this had a great impact and lead to more people connecting with St. John Ambulance.

Thank you, Tamara, Allie, Jake, & Willow, for sharing your story.

DARLENE DREGER & CHARLIE

Volunteer Since 2019 From Slemon Park, PEI

Darlene has been a lifelong volunteer and feels that she is called to serve her community. When she moved away from her large BC community and into the small PEI town, she found fewer opportunities to help her fellow citizens. When her husband was admitted to the hospital she started bringing her dog, Charlie, to visit him. She noticed how much joy Charlie brought other people and that he was a natural people lover. So she went looking for opportunities for her and Charlie to volunteer and found the Therapy Dog Program!

For Darlene, serving her community gives her purpose. It's what she loves to do and this program allows her to make an impact on many people. Not only for herself but for Charlie too. She recalled a time when she was on a float in a parade and another Therapy Dog team was there as well. Charlie always liked other dogs but was taken by this other SJA Therapy Dog. Darlene was shocked by the connection and is happy that Charlie is also gaining something from this experience.

Darlene also told a story about how she made a friend in one of the facilities she was visiting. They loved Charlie so much that they took a photo together and she printed it off for them. It wasn't until she went back to visit them that she realized how important that gesture was to someone in a facility. It's not just the big moments that matter, the small things do just as much.

Thank you, Darlene & Charlie, for sharing your story.

CHRISTINE REMME & SKYE, CRUZ, & SAM

Volunteer since 2005 From Falmouth, NS

Christine began volunteering with the Therapy Dog Program because she retired and was looking for a way to give back to her community. She had spent a lot of time with dogs throughout her life and wanted to find a way to incorporate them into her volunteering. When she realized how passionate she was about visiting seniors, the therapy dog program made so much sense. She realized that a lot of the people in nursing homes either had dogs in the past or even had to give up their dogs when they moved into the facility. For this reason, she felt she could enrich their lives by bringing them her dogs to visit!

Christine shared a memory with us about one man that she was visiting at the long-term care home. He was very isolated, did not want to be there, and would prefer to live in the city. Christine and her Therapy Dog, Skye, would go and visit him each week and began creating a friendship with him. He was able to meet other people through his friendship with Skye & Christine. When the time came that he was offered to move into the city, he said "No I don't want it, I have friends here now".

Christine says it's all about the joy you bring and that it's a thrill to be able to be the reason for so many smiles. But one act that made her realize her enormous impact was having the family members of her nursing home friends stop her on the street and thank her for visiting with their loved ones.

Thank you, Christine, Skye, Cruz, & Sam, for sharing your story!

BONNIE ANDERSEN & SHADOW, NELLIE

Volunteer since 2011 from Dartmouth, NS

Bonnie entered this program because of a chance encounter. Her son, who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 17, had been in the hospital for quite some time. He was extremely sick and getting Chemo at the IWK 3 or 4 times a week. One day an SJA Volunteer came in with their 2 Therapy Dogs. Her son immediately perked up, was chatting, and smiling again for the first time in a while. Bonnie describes it as a miracle and says it felt like magic. The encounter inspired her to get a dog and there was no question that her intention was to enter the program.

Bonnie and her first dog, Nellie, impacted countless people over their 9 years as a team. So much so, that when Nellie passed away, Bonnie received an overwhelming amount of support from the community they created together. Bonnie felt compelled to continue her and Nellie's legacy, and with that, adopted their next dog Shadow.

Bonnie and Shadow are now visiting the same place that she and Nellie visited, NSCC IT Campus. They continue to give back to their community and are sharing the impact of love and support that they got when they needed it most.

Thank you, Bonnie, Nellie, & Shadow, for sharing your story.

HEIDI PATTERSON & ZOEY

Volunteer since 2019 From Bonshaw, PEI

Heidi and Zoey began their journey in this program in 2019 and hit the ground running. Heidi had heard about the program when she lived in Thunder Bay but never had the chance to participate. When she moved to her small town in PEI she found that they also had the program here and jumped on the opportunity to join.

She and Zoey went through the evaluation and passed with flying colors. They quickly got placed at a Long Term Care Facility in their community and began visiting regularly! They were eager to jump on any other opportunities to volunteer like special events or one-off visits. Since beginning in the program, they have been a part of the Gold Cup Parade in Charlottetown, Bell Let's Talk Day at the PEI city hall, and so much more. They are excited to see what is up next for them once able to safely visit with people again!

Having been evaluated right before COVID, they were forced to stop visiting just as they were gaining momentum. They are so happy to be getting back into the swing of things and continue making people happy.

Heidi and Zoey have made incredible connections throughout their short time in the program, and say that they just love brightening people's day.

Thank you, Heidi & Zoey, for sharing your story.

HELEN DEYOUNG & BAILEE, CHARLIE

Volunteer since 2011 From Antigonish, NS

Helen decided to enter this program because she got a dog to help with her disability. After a while, she realized that her dog, Charlee, is incredibly intuitive about her needs and thought he could also do this for others in similar situations. When she got her other dog, Bailee, there was no question that she would also be a great source of love and joy for others.

Throughout their 10 years of volunteering Helen, Charlee, and Bailee have done an overwhelming amount of good. But according to Helen, a few moments stand out from the others. Whether it was hearing from a woman in a care home that "I'm always in pain, but when this dog is around, I don't feel the pain anymore", or that when she and Charlee were in the Highland Games Parade and the Mounties took off their hats and saluted them. These are the moments where Helen felt the impact she and her dogs made and felt the joy that she had been so gracious to share.

Helen shared that while she was not working, it was hard to find things to keep her busy. Volunteering with SJA had made an enormous impact on her life and given her, and her dogs, purpose.

Thank you, Helen, Charlee & Bailee, for sharing your story.

LINDSEY HARRINGTON & LOLA

Volunteer since 2014 From Halifax, NS

Lindsey began volunteering in Newfoundland when Lola, her Therapy Dog, came into her life. Lola was a part of a group of wild dogs living in Northern Labrador and was rescued by the SPCA, then later adopted by Lindsey.

She decided to enter the program because she had always been a community-oriented person, but could never find a volunteering opportunity that fit her lifestyle. Once she got Lola and realized that she had a calm, friendly, and social personality, she thought that this program could be the answer! Lucky for us, it was!

Lindsey has made a massive impact on her community in Halifax as well as in Newfoundland when she was there. One of Lindsey's favorite moments in this program was when a resident of the Admiral in Dartmouth, NS, gave her a drawing of Lola. He was an artist and took the time to create a piece of art to show his appreciation and friendship for Lindsey and Lola. Moments like those are lovely to be reminded that they are appreciated, but Lindsey feels like she gets just as much joy out of the interactions as they do.

They realize how hard COVID has been for their friends in the long-term care homes, and they are so excited to get back to visiting and sharing the love of animals with everyone!

Thank you, Lindsey & Lola, for sharing your story.

STEVEN LAUGHLIN & STAR

Volunteering Since 2020 From Traveller's Rest, PEI

Steven began his journey in the SJA Therapy Dog Program because he was looking for ways to give back to his community. He was also looking for more ways to spend time with his dog, Gryffyn. He noticed that people were naturally attracted to Gryffyn and would walk up to them on the street to start up a conversation. He did some research and found that our program was the perfect opportunity!

Steven and Gryffyn were one of the last teams in the region to be evaluated prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. For that reason, they didn't get to do too much until the whole system was shut down. That being said, what they were able to accomplish in that short time, was beyond impactful.

When he and Gryffyn returned for their first visit post-COVID, they were greeted with the biggest smiles. Not only by the residents at the facility but by the staff as well. He shared that he experienced people having fun and forgetting about all the awful things going on in the world. It was a beautiful moment that showed that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that we will be able to find joy and hope in this post-COVID world.

Steven also shared that he is by no means an extrovert, But this volunteering with Gryffyn is forcing him to get out of his comfort zone. It's an incredibly hard task to be able to feel comfortable in a room full of strangers, but volunteering with Gryffin makes it easy! For Steven, it's enabling him to make such a positive impact on his fellow citizens.

Thank you, Steven & Gryffyn, for sharing your story.

HEIDI PATTERSON & ZOEY

Volunteer since 2019 From Bonshaw, PEI

Heidi and Zoey have made incredible connections throughout their short time in the program, and say that they just love brightening people's day.

Thank you, Heidi & Zoey, for sharing your story.

Nova Scotia & PEI: About