NEW LEND A PAW SITES

This month I am proud to announce that we will begin visits at three new facilities.  

 Through our relationship with the LA Mission, we have been given the opportunity to volunteer with their women's and children's outreach, the Anne Douglas Center.  On Saturday mornings, the center hosts a Mommy and Me program. Homeless women and children come to shelter for a much needed meal, as well as time to shop through good will donations of clothing and other necessities. In order to give the moms a short break, an activity is provided for the children. Lend A Paw has set up a schedule to visit the center and provide the activity for the children. We are hoping that our dogs can help these little ones forget their troubles if only for a short while. Visits will begin on Saturday, February 5th. In order to continue monthly visits, we will need volunteer dogs and handlers, as well as a volunteer leader to attend. Contact Sharon if you would like to help.

Two of the sites, Aegis Living and Bubbe & Zaydes Place, are assisted living facilities, to which our services were requested by two individuals whose family members reside at each. Therapy dogs are beneficial in these settings for a variety of reasons. Not only has research shown a reduction in blood pressure in people while interacting with dogs, but it has recently been found that  interactions with dogs are related to reduced levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that has been linked to memory loss. 
Therapy dogs have also been known to 
help alleviate depression, loneliness, and 
anxiety, while also helping to facilitate 
social interaction. In my own experiences, 
I have seen that the visits of the Therapy 
Dogs are extremely therapeutic, and that the 
interaction between the Handlers and the 
individuals they are visiting can be equally 
as beneficial. Lend A Paw is hoping to set up 
monthly visits at each of these facilities. We will 
need volunteer dogs and handlers, as well as a 
volunteer leader for each site. Lend A Paw will
begin visiting Aegis Living on Sunday, February 13th.

Visits at Bubbe & Zaydes Place will begin on 

Wednesday, February 26th.

Contact Sharon if you would like to help.