Vol. 1, No. 3
Fall
2014
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE TMH Animal Therapy Program
Table of Contents
Save the Date
1
Fox Discovery Series 2
New Interns
2
Exceptional Stories
3
Rehab Presentation
4
Rehab Study
4
R.E.A.D.ing Corner
5
Courthouse
7
Dependency Court
8
Out and About
9
New Facilities
11
Fall Schedule
12
Reunited at Rehab
13
In Memory
14
TMH Animal Therapy
Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event
Save the Date
Thursday, October 23, 2014
6:30 p.m.—8:30 p.m.
Capital City Country Club
Bruce Morton & Scooter
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Vol. 1, No. 3
Fall
2014
Behind the Scenes: Fox Discovery Series
TMH Animal Therapy is featured in the currentlyairing annual Fox Discovery Video series on Tallahassee
Memorial. Animal Therapy has a minute-long segment
highlighting the importance of animal assisted therapy.
Footage also shows animal therapy visits to the TMH
Children’s Center and Cardiology. Stephanie Perkins is
interviewed and Chuck Mitchell gives a personal
testimony. Lola Perkins and Rikki Mitchell also star!
The segment will air from September through mid October
on Fox.
New Interns
Taylor Davis & Sarai Miller
We are pleased to announce two new interns,
Taylor Davis and Sarai Miller who will be interning
with the TMH Animal Therapy Program this fall.
Taylor and Sarai are both seniors at Florida State
University. Taylor is double majoring in Family and
Child Sciences and Psychology, and Sarai in Family
and Child Sciences. Taylor’s future plans include
pursuit of a master’s degree, and Sarai the pursuit of a
Child Life Specialist certification. Taylor has a 12-yearold miniature Schnauzer named Lilly and Sarai has a
house full, including two black Labs, Bella and Eli, as
well as a Miniature Schnauzer named Tucker. If you
see Taylor or Sarai, please welcome them to the team!
Left: Taylor Davis & Lilly
Right: Sarai Miller
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Vol. 1, No. 3
Fall
2014
Touching Lives One Visit at a Time:
Exceptional Stories
{ICU} Gabrielle Gabrielli and therapy dog Bodi received an amazing patient request.
A daughter across the country and unable to be by her family’s side, requested Bodi
go to the hospital to give her mother a hug. Her step-father was passing and her
mother was all alone. Gabrielle and Bodi did just that. “I told her that her daughter
had sent us because she wanted to give her mom a hug. She said how much that
meant to her…” said Gabrielle. Gabrielle and Bodi had an amazing day. They felt
honored and grateful to be able to provide comfort in a most vulnerable time;
especially providing a furry hug from a daughter thousands of miles away.
{The TMH Children’s Center} Barbara
White-Wilner and therapy dog Emerson
made a regular Monday visit to the
TMH Children’s Center. That day they
met a very special young patient, who
happened to just loves puppies! The
patient was physically and verbally
delayed. That did not deter Emerson in
any way. She made sure to provide the
patient with all the wags and pats he
could stand, after which the patient
eagerly requested more “puppy” visit.
“All he could say was ‘puppies, puppies
puppies’ after the initial visit,” Lauren
Shirrell, CCLS, said. The next evening
Bryan Wimberly and therapy dog Bella
fulfilled the request! The patient was so
motivated and excited he was able to
walk with the help and encouragement
of Bella! “He was able to walk with the
encouragement of pet therapy!” said
Sherill. The family raved that it was
through the encouragement of the
therapy dogs that the young patient
was able to achieve great milestones
during his stay at TMH.
{HOSPICE} “Today Lisa and Rose came to the
hospice house for their very first visit. I don’t
think I can truly express what an amazing team
they are. Rose makes everyone so happy. I
guess because she is so unique and beautiful , or
maybe because they’ve never seen a harness on
a bird. Lisa is incredible. She is such a great
conversationalist and so knowledgeable about
birds, but she also makes people very happy.
Together they make a fantastic team.
Their very first visit was one of the most
memorable visits I’ve ever had… The son was
at the nurses’ station when Rose and Lisa came
out and he talked about having a bird. I asked
him if he wanted us to visit his mom and he
said she was not really in any condition for
visitors. Then his sisters came out and said we
had to visit mom, so we all went to the patient’s
room. She opened her eyes and smiled. The
patient’s husband was at the bedside. The best
thing was that Rose led to all kinds of funny
stories about how all the siblings can’t stand the
first brother’s bird. It was really
incredible. Rose and Lisa transformed that
space. They were all laughing. It was very
moving.” - Betty Morales
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Vol. 1, No. 3
Fall
2014
Presentation by Jeff Vowell
In July, Jeff Vowell and his
therapy dog Carly presented to the
monthly TMH Rehabilitation Center’s
continued learning staff meeting. In
2012 Jeff was unexpectedly admitted to
TMH Rehab after suffering several
complications post surgery. Jeff shared
his personal experience as a patient
and how impactful the staff and rehabilitation services were to his recovery.
To give back ,Jeff and Carly visit Rehab
regularly to help make a difference in
the lives of other rehabilitation patients
through animal assisted therapy.
Upcoming Animal Therapy—Rehab Research Study!
TMH Animal Therapy will soon be embarking on a new research study at
the TMH Rehabilitation Center. Titled The Effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy on
Molecular and Behavioral Outcomes in the Rehabilitation Center, the study will look
at the effects of animal-assisted therapy sessions on patient outcomes. Saliva
samples from participating patients will be taken before and after either a
therapy dog visit or a friendly stranger visit. Saliva samples will be taken from
the dogs before and after visits as well. Cortisol and other biomarkers will be
analyzed in the lab, as well as vitals such as heart rate, blood pressure, and
mood. We hope the hypotheses demonstrate that therapy dog visits improve
the overall outcomes for patients in the TMH Rehabilitation Center, and
ultimately lead to an even greater knowledge of the human-animal bond.
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Vol. 1, No. 3
Fall
2014
R.E.A.D.ing Corner
By: Patty Mitchell
Let’s Get Ready for the New School Year!

When you return or start READing this Fall, you should be assigned
“backup READers” in addition to your regular students. The backups will
fill in on days your students are absent due to illness. We go through so
much preparation before a READ visit that it can be disappointing to have
no one to read to your pet partner when you go to school.

Please check your school’s website for the Holiday calendar and their Field
Trip schedules. I hear that most Field Trips include a few grades at a time,
so even your backup readers may be unavailable.

We would like to collect data from our READers as they progress through
the school year. Please help by keeping a journal of each of your students
with their full name and grade. (Of course, the data will be presented
anonymously.) This journal will also serve well as a diary: note the book that
the student reads each session – maybe even include the number of pages
read. At the year-end, you can easily compile a “List of Books Read” and
present it to your students. They will be over the moon when they see what
they accomplished!
Have fun this year…
share stories of success …
Let me know if we need to address any issues.
- Patty Mitchell
Bobbie Jo Finer with Honey and student
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Vol. 1, No. 3
Fall
2014
Is Your Pet Comfortable with Children?
Are You Able to Volunteer Once a Week? *
The next Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.®) class will be held on
Saturday, November 1, 2014, from 12:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. To enroll, please contact Patty
Mitchell at [email protected] or 877- 4187. (The location for the class is still to be
determined.) Please attend without your pet. To take the R.E.A.D. class, the team must
have passed the TMH ATP evaluation and be an active member of TMH ATP.
The class fee is $15; prepaying is greatly appreciated to ensure that a sufficient
number of manuals will be on hand. Please mail check, payable to “TMH Foundation”, to
Patty Mitchell at P.O. Box 13708, Tallahassee, Fl. 32317. Attendees must also purchase the
R.E.A.D. manual from Intermountain Therapy Animals (ITA) for $50, which includes your
ITA registration fee and a bandana. The manuals will be distributed on 11/1; the checks to
ITA will be collected that day, too. (The bandanas are given on the first day you and your
pet partner attend school.) Please bring your Pet Partners® badge with you.
Meredith Edwards with Daisy and student
We READ at: *Maclay School * School of Arts and Sciences * Desoto Trail Elementary * The Character Center * Cornerstone Learning Community * Hawks Rise Elementary *
Roberts Elementary * Chaires Elementary After-School * Kate Sullivan Elementary * Buck
Lake Elementary * Swift Creek Middle School * Shadeville Elementary * Gilchrist Elementary * Oak Ridge Elementary.
* during the school year from late September to mid-May
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Vol. 1, No. 3
Fall
2014
COURTHOUSE Therapy Dogs
The Courthouse Therapy Dogs Program has been busy
during the first half of 2014. In addition to serving several dozens of
children (and their guardians) in dependency court, our teams have
assisted several dozen victims and witnesses in criminal court
proceedings. Our work is designed primarily for children and
vulnerable witnesses, but in fact we have also served many adults.
This doesn’t count the many courthouse staff who get their stress
relief from the dogs.
In 2011, Chuck Mitchell helped our program lead the way in drafting and helping
pass the first law in the United States to allow therapy dogs to accompany child victims and
witnesses into the courtroom. Other states have begun to follow suit, and currently over half
the states in the country and over half the jurisdictions in Florida use animal therapy in the
judicial process. This year we established the website, www.flcourtdogs.com, with an
embedded video that demonstrates the value of our program.
Due to our successes, we were able to significantly expand the law this year. In fact,
the first bill signed by the governor and the legislature this session was SB 526, which
amends and expands Florida Statute 92.55 to allow service and therapy dogs to also
accompany any victim or witness of any age who is developmentally or mentally disabled,
or anyone the judge deems to be a vulnerable witness.
Stephanie Perkins, Susan Wilson and Chuck Mitchell made presentations about our
program to the FSU College of Law (twice), and to the Animal Law Committee of the Florida
Bar, at its annual meeting. The program was also featured in the Animal Law newsletter.
In February, Chuck moderated and helped present a national webinar by the Center
for the Prosecution of Child Abuse, called “How Therapy Animal Programs Can Help
Maltreated Children.” It was sponsored by the National District Attorneys Association and
the U.S. Department of Juvenile Justice, and was attended by several hundred attorneys and
victim advocates. In March he also made a presentation (via Skype) to the University of
Albany (N.Y.) School of Criminology.
As we have done more cases and interacted with more staff, we continue to evolve
and refine our practices and protocols. The work can be difficult at times, but is incredibly
valuable and rewarding. We are always interested in adding teams to the program. If you
are interested, please call Stephanie Perkins at 850-431-5352.
The therapy dogs are so incredibly helpful to these kids and their families and/or
guardians in dependency court, and to the kids and their families in criminal court. Not just
because it aids in the prosecution of some serious criminals, but also because these dogs help
these kids find their voice and stimulate the healing process.
www.flcourthousedogs.com
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Vol. 1, No. 3
Fall
2014
Dependency Court Program Expands
By: Susan Wilson
It’s exciting times with our Courthouse Therapy Dog Program! We were the first
jurisdiction to conduct animal therapy visits for dependency court cases with the first
visit taking place in Wakulla County in December 2009. Since then similar programs
have been implemented in over one-half of the judicial circuits in Florida.
Historically, our dependency court visits were group visits in corridors or
child-friendly rooms with children waiting for their cases to be called. That is, until late
July, when we received a request from the Guardian Ad Litem Program to have an
animal team present with a thirteen-year-old girl in the courtroom for an emergency
hearing. In addition to the emergency nature of the court event, the child involved in
the case had special needs and had been a victim of violent crimes not related to the
dependency case. After obtaining judicial approval and working out the logistics we
were very fortunate to have TMH Animal Therapy Volunteer Don Cuppy and Casey,
a Golden Retriever, conduct this very important animal therapy visit. The visit was so
well received that we were asked to participate in a subsequent hearing for the same
child and be available for three other specific children.
With the success of the in-courtroom dependency court visits we are
collaborating with Chris Gornik, a volunteer with both TMH Animal Therapy and
Guardian Ad Litem, to develop protocols on the use of animal therapy teams for child
specific dependency cases. We are proud of the success of our court program, and of
course, it is all due to our remarkable volunteers.
If you are interested in volunteering with the Courthouse Therapy Dog Program,
please contact Susan Wilson at [email protected] or 850-577-4430. For more
information about the Second Judicial Circuit Courthouse Therapy Dogs Program
please see http://2ndcircuit.leoncountyfl.gov/petTherapy.php.
www.flcourthousedogs.com
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Vol. 1, No. 3
Left to Right: Gayle Morton & Styker,
Bobbie Jo Finer & Honey
Sydney Hanselman & Rockie Yesner
Lisa Lazarus & Rose
Fall
Beth Huettel & Lucy
2014
Joan Bertolaet & Dottie
Left to Right: Bobbie Jo Finer & Piper, Heather
Ashley & Katy, Joanne Taylor & Smudge
Sharyn Yesner & Rockie
Page 9
Vol. 1, No. 3
Fall
Grendel, Melanie, & Allie Howe
Cosmo Cody
2014
Lauralee Moore & Gertie
Left: Bobbie Jo Finer & Piper
Cheyenne Hildinger & Sophie
Right: Aloe
Karen Calhoun & Bella
Left to Right: T Cody & Cosmo, Lizzie Ruse & Gabi, Brenda
Coiner & Beaux, Karen Calhoun & Bella, Cindy Burgess &
Dolly, Haven Cook & Yaya, Janet Cordero & Bane
Brenda Coiner & Beaux
Page 10
Vol. 1, No. 3
Fall
2014
New Facilities

Holy Family Senior Services of Apalachicola
Magnolia House Assisted Living

CHECK
IT OUT


Regular Visits to Harborchase Memory Care

Oak Ridge Elementary School

Department of Juvenile Justice
Miracle Hill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
New Facility for Screenings & Evaluations
TMH Animal Therapy will now conduct
screenings and evaluations at the new At
Home Veterinary Care Clinic, located at 1833
Juwin Court. AHVC has a superb indoor, air
conditioned training room. The floors are
painted concrete, perfect for paws to grip and
the occasional elimination clean up (whoops!).
If you are interested in checking out the
facility, please feel free to volunteer for any of
the upcoming evaluations dates. Please contact
Gail Parker at [email protected] to sign up!
Note: The all-day Handler Workshops will
now be held at TMH!
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Vol. 1, No. 3
Fall
2014
Dates set for the TMH Animal Therapy 2014 Fall Training Classes and September/October
2014 Pet Partners® Evaluations
Please place these dates on your calendar and please share the schedule with prospective volunteers interested in joining TMH
Animal Therapy or volunteers interested in assisting with either prescreening, training or evaluating activities. To place your
name on the schedule or if you have questions, please contact the TMH Animal Therapy program coordinator, Stephanie Perkins
at [email protected], 850.671.6342 or assistant program coordinator, Heather Ashley at [email protected],
850.431.5352
TMH Animal Therapy needs helpers on the dates marked with an asterisk below. Even if you can be there only one day or one
hour, your help will be greatly appreciated.
Prescreening (by appointment only) AHVC:
Date
Time (approximate)
*
August 2
Saturday
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
*
August 4
Monday
6:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.
*
August 9
Saturday
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Training Classes:
Location
Date
Time
Topic
TMH Conference
Room A
August 23
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Training workshop
NO DOGS
8 hours
NO DOGS
NO DOGS
*
Smith-W
August 25
** 6:30 p.m. 1 hour
Training for prospective new dogs
*
Smith-W
September 8
** 6:30 p.m. 1 hour
Training for prospective new dogs
*
Smith-W
September 15
** 6:30 p.m. 1 hour
Training for prospective new dogs
*
Smith-W
September 22
** 6:30 p.m. 1 hour
Training for prospective new dogs
*
Smith-W
September 29
** 6:30 p.m. 1 hour
Training for prospective new dogs
** Tentative time. Depending on the number of dogs enrolled, groups may be divided and meet at different times (e.g. 5:45
p.m. and 6:50 p.m.). Exact times will be set after the completion of prescreening.
AHVC – denotes the At Home Veterinary Care clinic at 1833 Junwin Court, across the street from CRMC ER
Smith-W denotes the Smith-Williams Community Center at 2295 Pasco Street, next to Walker Ford.
Formal Pet Partners Evaluations (by appointment only) AHVC:
Date
Time (approximate)
*
September 13
Saturday
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
*
September 20
Saturday
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
*
October 4
Saturday
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
*
October 6
Monday Evening
5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
*
October 11
Saturday
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Current volunteers - please check your Pet Partners® badge for your expiration date. If your own Pet Partners® registration will
expire in September or December 2014, you are encouraged to sign up for one of the September/October 2014 evaluation dates.
Contact Gail Parker at [email protected] or 850.893.5749 for scheduling. Thank you very much.
Page 12
Vol. 1, No. 3
Fall
2014
Reunited at Rehab
Betsy Duval and Rikki Mitchel were reunited at Rehab in August. Betsy was in a
severe car accident, sustaining a traumatic brain injury. For three months Rikki worked with
Betsy to improve her physical and cognitive functioning. Betsy credits her recovery to the
outstanding care she received while at the TMH Rehabilitation Center, especially crediting
Rikki. Betsy has written a book on her experience, My TBI Journey, Stay on the Train. She dedicates the book to her angel with paws, Rikki.
Betsy Duval
Chuck Mitchell & Rikki
Betsy Duval
Left to Right: Chuck Mitchell, Rikki,
Tracy Friend, Betsy Duval, Sheree
Porter, Polly Bohannon, Jim Tebo
Chuck Mitchell & Rikki
Mark your Calendars for these Upcoming Events
Volunteer Appreciation Event

Thursday, October 23 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Capital City Country Club

RSVP to Heather Ashley at [email protected]
Evaluations

Saturday, September 13 & 20, October 4 & 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 6 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
R.E.A.D. Workshop

Saturday, November 1 from 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

TMH Conference Room A
Page 13
Vol. 1, No. 3
Fall
2014
To
In Loving Memory
“Leaving Pawprints forever on our hearts…”
Bailey Mariutto
Bear Patterson
Many thanks to all of our wonderful Volunteer Teams!
Sincerely,
Stephanie Perkins, Program Coordinator
Heather Ashley, Assistant Program Coordinator
Page 14