The Difference We Make
From classrooms and care homes to hospitals and community spaces, our volunteer therapy dog teams bring comfort, connection and joy to people of all ages. Here’s what our community partners, volunteers and those we visit have to say.
“The visits have brought out even some of our less social residents out and socializing with others. It has created a group that gets together regularly. The facilitator Suzie is so friendly and social. She has created great partnerships with our residents and they look forward to visiting with both Echo and her every week.”
-Venvi, The Edgemont
“Students leave their time with the dog happy, content, and relaxed. Giving the students the choice to read, play a game, or just visit with the dogs is beneficial to meet the students where they are at. They truly make a difference in the students they support.”
-Langdon School
“They love the dogs! Moods improve and give them moments of happiness. You are all excellent!”
-Staywell Manor
“Emergency Health Services 911 Dispatchers have a stressful and sometimes traumatic job. The dogs create positive moments of interaction with our team and give our people a chance to have a moment of downtime and respite. Every moment is appreciated.”
-Emergency Health Dispatch (911)
Featured Volunteer Story
“Daisy loved volunteering with CTDS and she was happiest when she was able to spend time with kids. I think her favourite place to visit was the Society for Autism Support and Services.
There was a lot of excitement that day, then a worker asked if Daisy could go to another smaller room with an overstimulated boy who was laying on the floor in the dark calming down. Daisy went right into his arm nook and laid down too, and they just laid together. It was beautiful.
CTDS means that Daisy lives on in every person she touched.”
-Amelie Stark, CTDS Volunteer Handler, remembering Daisy
“Our Residents are always surprised and engaged when Lillie comes around. Our staff are no different, all of us enjoy having her visit. We are all very appreciative that CTDS was open and willing to make a new connection with a mental health site. It’s nice to see CTDS bring joy, connection and hope to our clients and staff.”
-AgeCare SkyPointe II, Recovery Alberta, Complex Mental Health Rehabilitation Program
“The dogs at the library is a community favourite. It has elevated our programming!” they are at. They truly make a difference in the students they support.”
-Community Library Partner
“To Janet and Nike,
Your friendship with our Dad may have only been a few months, but you both had a huge impact on him, and I can guarantee that you are the one thing that he would get out of his room for without fail! Nike may be a rescue dog, but she rescues people every day.”
-Family of Bruce Crighton, former resident of Wheatland Lodge, Strathmore
“I had witnessed many times in the Emergency Department that when a therapy dog walked through the department that it was a positive domino effect, time seemed to stand still for a moment as the dog walked past the staff, a pause in the business, a quick smile by staff and then work would continue. The visits are not always long but the impact Darci has with staff and patients lasts long after she leaves.”
-Jackie Miller, RN, Quality Improvement Coordinator, Peter Lougheed Emergency Department