Angel Paws Therapy Dogs

17/02/2025

February is 'Train you dog month' so can you train your dog to be a Therapy Dog? The short answer is no!! Here's why. First and foremost a Therapy Dog has to want to interact with everyone they meet. It can then be trained in basic obedience, and familiarised with things like, different floor surfaces, stairs, lifts, men with beards, or people in uniforms or hats, wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, noisy environments....... I'm sure you get the idea. The handler is then there to support their dog, and allow them to use all their amazing senses, to help the people they visit.

12/02/2025

The Coastal team hosted their first new dog/handler evaluation on 9 February 2025 and what a treat it was! Seven new applicants attended and all 7 will be entering the in-training programme - CONGRATULATIONS!! A huge shout out to and Kelsey Canot for their professional input as canine behaviourists. The Kloof and Highway SPCA kindly hosted the evaluation and our awesome coastal handlers provided support. Welcome to our journey!

10/02/2025

Roxy, a much loved member of the Midlands team, has undergone eye surgery. Please share with me in sending healing thoughts. We miss you at your regular visits Roxy.

09/02/2025

07/02/2025

There are so many benefits of interacting with Therapy Dogs.
This info graphic with Angel Paw Zingi highlights some of them.

05/02/2025

Very special, happy hugs !
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03/02/2025

Question - what do therapy dogs do when they're off duty?
Answer - just the same things other dogs do, including digging in the garden and getting very dirty.

29/01/2025

We had our first visit of the year at St Luke’s home of healing . It was wonderful to see our precious friends there again after the Christmas break .

27/01/2025

Is the work they do stressful for Therapy Dogs?
The short answer is no, but this is why. First we choose dogs with a stable friendly temperament, and a proactive handler, then, during the evaluation, we use many tests, and introduce equipment they'll encounter, to see how they react. If we feel they're ready, they then move onto a trainee stage, where they experience different aspects of the work. Their handler, & accompanying experienced hander, watch the dog's body language, for any signs the dog isn't enjoying the interaction. If it were to happen the dog would be taken to do something fun.
Once the dog learns that wearing his jacket means he's going to 'work,' then the excitement they show, leaves us in now doubt they enjoy what they do.
The handlers are pretty special people too!!!

24/01/2025

We were so interested to read an article by about Touch Starvation.
We witness the healing happening when our dogs interact with patients, so we were pleased to learn more about how the magic happens.
Reticent patients often feel more comfortable, initially brushing the dogs, so this is something we keep in our toolbox to offer them.
Life Healthcare St Josephs.

22/01/2025

Thank you Nurture Healthfor such a lovely visit . The staff are all so welcoming of us and our Angel Paws Therapy Dogs.

20/01/2025

January is 'walk your dog month', but sometimes our Therapy Dogs do things a little differently. After teaching the Gr 1 children at Thembelihle school, about safe & appropriate interaction with dogs, they get the opportunity to walk our dogs on another lead, or, in Tickle's case, 3 leads.

17/01/2025

One of our first Angel Paws Graduates was Roly - a rescue who was brought into our programme by his "godmother", Allison Mayez. His story below, written by Allison, is heart warming.
"Roly is a mixed breed medium boy who arrived at Mazarat Animal Rescue in 2018, about a year old. Nothing is known of his first year of life, but he was a sweet, loving dog who was given his name because, if asked to do something he is not keen to do, he simply lies down and rolls over to ask for a belly tickle!
Roly was in the rescue kennels for a while and coped well, but one rainy day, Margie Rae came to the kennels to fetch a newly surrendered small breed dog who wasn't coping well with his new situation - Margie often fostered small dogs from the kennels to help them adjust because so many dogs arrive following traumatic situations.
Roly was in the kennel next door and used his best puppy dog eyes to convince Margie to take hom home too, which she did! Roly was formally adopted into Margie's home, and for the past 6 years has been a faithful and loving companion and also a sweet older brother to the many small foster dogs that passed through Margie's home. In 2023, Allison, a friend of Margie's and Mazarat volunteer, joined Angel Paws with Roly as her therapy dog. Roly's easy temperament and sweet nature provided love and comfort to the people he visited with Angel Paws.
Margie passed away in December after a short illness, and Roly has been lucky enough to find a wonderful new home with doggy friend Lucy, where he will be well loved and cared for, for the rest of his days. Allison will miss her Angel Paws colleagues and the residents at Philakade Vare Home and Doone Village, but hopefully will find another dog to don Angel Paws wings and spread love in our community."

We will miss you dear Roly and Allison but wish you well on your new adventures!

15/01/2025

Mr Spikey! Giving loads of love and Happiness today .

13/01/2025

Our first visit of 2025 was made special by Chelsea completing her training visits, and becoming a qualified member of the team. We're always made so welcome at Howick Police Station.

10/01/2025

After a well deserved break; the Angel Paws kicked off visits this week with wagging tails and happy paws.
Life Healthcare

06/01/2025

Our Midlands handlers are amazing. We started the year with 8 regular visits. We've added Oatlands Psychiatric Hospital, and Howick Police Station to our calendar, with Garlick House starting next month.
We've also held 5 awareness events, given 4 Power Point Presentations to organisations, held 3 evaluations, adding more handler/dog partners to our team. Done Animal Education Programmes for Thembelihle Gr1's, and Gods Little Lambs pre-school, along with participating in wellness days at Grace & Varsity Colleges.
Our reward is watching our dogs brighten the lives of 100's of people every month.
With more dog teams we could help even more people.

01/01/2025

Bring in the New Year with pawsitivity !
As we start 2025 let’s start with tail wagging Joy and unconditional love !
From all of us at Angel Paws Therapy dogs we wish you a fantastic 2025 with loads of doggy love.