Listening Tails

Children participate in weekly 15 to 20 minute reading sessions over a six-week period in a calm, relaxed environment.

During each session, children read aloud to a therapy dog while the dog remains on leash and is supervised by its handler at all times.

Children are asked to bring enough books for the full session, ideally at a reading level that is comfortable and appropriate for them. To help create a quiet and supportive space, parents and guardians do not stay in the room during the reading session.

The setting is intentionally relaxed. Children and dogs sit on cushions, while handlers remain seated nearby, within leash length of their dogs.

The success of Listening Tails comes from the simple but powerful connection between children and dogs. Therapy dogs offer calm companionship and non-judgmental listening, helping children feel more comfortable, encouraged, and confident as they read.

As a general guideline, the program is designed for children in Grades 1 to 3. However, no child will be denied the opportunity to participate based on grade level.

Visiting Tails

Visiting Tails is designed to bring comfort, connection, and companionship to people in care and community settings through visits with therapy dogs and their handlers.

Originally created to enhance quality of life for seniors, Visiting Tails now supports a broader range of individuals, including seniors, hospital patients, hospice residents, families, staff, EMS personnel, and people in community care settings. These visits can help ease stress, reduce feelings of loneliness, brighten someone’s day, and provide a calming moment of connection during difficult or emotional times.

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In hospitals and hospices, therapy dog visits offer comfort not only to patients, but also to families, caregivers, and healthcare staff. For many, a visit from a therapy dog provides a welcome pause, a sense of normalcy, and a gentle source of emotional support in an otherwise stressful environment.

Visits typically last 40 to 50 minutes, depending on the setting and the number of people participating. Dogs and handlers may visit with individuals in group settings or room to room, based on the needs and preferences of each facility.​

Caring Tails

Caring Tails provides comfort and emotional support to individuals and groups experiencing stress, anxiety, trauma, or difficult life circumstances.

Through visits with therapy dogs and their handlers, Caring Tails offers a calming and compassionate presence during challenging moments. Each visit is tailored to the needs of the situation, with the shared goal of providing comfort, connection, and reassurance in a way that only dogs can.

Caring Tails may support students experiencing exam stress or ongoing anxiety, individuals coping with a difficult life event, or families and communities recovering after trauma or loss.

Whether the need is short-term support or a calming presence during an especially stressful time, therapy dog visits can help create a sense of ease, safety, and emotional connection.