[CEMA Signal] CEMA SIGNAL: Therapy Dogs' Examination This Weekend

Tue Jan 5 12:21:17 PST 2010

CEMA Signal is a non-emergency email listserv to notify Chatham County residents of administrative issues such as meetings, road closures, training.

CEMA ALERT will be used exclusively to distribute emergency information that warns of conditions that threaten the lives and/or property of Chatham County residents.

To un-subscribe to CEMA Signal, please visit:  http://chathamemergency.org/mailman/options/cema_signal_chathamemergency.org

NEWS RELEASE

Chatham Emergency Management Agency

For Immediate Release
January 5, 2009, 3:00 PM

CONTACT:
K. Courtney Cunningham
912.201.4508  (O)
912.657.8671  (C)
kccunnin at chathamcounty.org

Therapy Dogs to the Rescue
Savannah, GA – January 5, 2009

Saturday, January 9th, 2010, the Chatham Emergency Management Agency will be collaborating with Therapy Dogs International (TDI®) to host the Therapy Dog Certification Exam at the Spanish Oaks Retreat, located at 8510 Whitefield Avenue.  This is the first examination of its kind to be held in Savannah and will test dogs and their handlers’ sensitivity and attentiveness to people.  

The rigorous exam is expected to continue most of the day to test dogs and their handlers’ response to the following:

·        Therapy Dogs’ reactions to boarding and riding a school bus, boat and elevator.  
·        Interaction with mounted police patrol and fully uniformed fire personnel.
·        Reaction to fire engine sirens.
·        Reaction to helicopter take off and landing.

TDI® is a volunteer group organized to provide qualified handlers and their Therapy Dogs for visitations to institutions, facilities, and any other place where Therapy Dogs are needed.  In addition, TDI® ensures that all Therapy Dogs are tested, certified, insured and registered so that they may bring joy and comfort to those in need during stressful and sometimes intense situations.

The use of canines to help mankind is known throughout the world. They have been used for guarding flocks, tracking, hunting, search and rescue, leading the blind, and in assisting the deaf and physically challenged.  The bond between dog and man dates back to early history, but it wasn’t until recently that a correlation was acknowledged between this bond and the emotional health of humans. 

Studies have shown that a person holding or petting an animal results in a lowering of blood pressure, the release of strain and tension, and can draw out a person from loneliness and depression.  The Chatham Emergency Management Agency will partner with TDI® in the event that a major disaster affects Chatham County.  Therapy Dogs will not only be brought in to assist disaster victims but also the numerous first responders that assist with the response and recovery from a disaster.

To belong to TDI® all dogs must be tested and evaluated by a Certified TDI Evaluator. A dog must be a minimum of one year of age and have a sound temperament. Each dog must pass a temperament evaluation for suitability to become a Therapy Dog, which includes the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen Test (CGC). The test will also include the evaluation of the dog’s behavior around people that use service equipment (wheelchairs, crutches, etc.).

For additional information on TDI®, please visit www.tdi-dog.org. 

###
K. Courtney Cunningham
Emergency Management Specialist
External Affairs / Volunteer Coordination

Chatham Emergency Management Agency
124 Bull Street, Suite 140
Savannah, GA 31401

kccunnin at chathamcounty.org
912.201.4508
912.657.8671
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://chathamemergency.org/pipermail/cema_signal_chathamemergency.org/attachments/20100105/abe44830/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/gif
Size: 2319 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://chathamemergency.org/pipermail/cema_signal_chathamemergency.org/attachments/20100105/abe44830/attachment-0001.gif>