Meet Debbie, a young senior and long-time resident of Peel Region, and her Goldendoodle dog Mitey.
Last October during Breast Cancer Month, St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program ambassadors Debbie and golden doodle Mitey teamed up with Peel Region Paramedics in its 20th Annual Open House in Brampton.
“I did this event with my mother in mind,” says Debbie. “She’s beat breast cancer three times.” “Mom raised our family to always give back – give something, whatever you can.”
As a 12-year volunteer with St. John Ambulance (SJA) – Therapy Dog Program, Debbie makes regular hospital and long term care visits to shut-ins, and is an ambassador for health promotion, and other corporate and public events.
The SJA Therapy Dog Program involves trained volunteer handlers and dogs visiting informal settings to enhance quality of life. The program fosters dignity, affection and support for making social bonds and conversation.
In 2018, University of Saskatchewan research on SJA Therapy Dogs visits shows that human-animal relationships improve mental, emotional, and social health for senior veterans Visiting dogs provided them with stress relief, companionship, and emotional support.
As a result, they reported a better sense of calmness and other health outcomes. Even more than other seniors the same age, older veterans often face social isolation ad loneliness worsened by aging and poor physical health, combat trauma PTSD, depression, and dementia.
Debbie has lived insights into the benefit of SJA Therapy Dogs Program, with her own onset of midlife disability. Not only did her job prospects end – but also her disability pay fell short of income replacement.
“Persons living with disabilities (PLWD) often become homebodies,” says Debbie. “Back then, before Mitey, I had my people-friendly dog Tuffy and weekday time to serve. I contacted St. John Ambulance to volunteer for Therapy Dog program visits, 1 hour per week in a location close to home.”
Now Debbie’s role has expanded over the years to join in SJA education and outreach programs, such as Brampton’s EMS Open House. And thanks to her mom’s introduction to another dog lover, in 2020 under COVID conditions Debbie and friend Christine helmed “Peel Helping Hands” (PHH) online mutual aid initiative.
When Tuffy passed, Mitey the pup was seeking rehoming – and Debbie answered the call.
PHH was inspired by Mississauga Cooksville veteran William Graham and the how the community- supported Free Food Tables initiative, to get food and other help to those detached from care system supports delivered under the Peel Region Community Safety and Well-Being Plan.
Under each initiative, provisions and donations from individuals and service groups live up to: “Give something. Do whatever you can.”