Anybody who has ever enjoyed the companionship and unconditional love of a dog can certainly understand why our four-legged friends are frequently called upon to help people with physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges in life. The very demeanor of most suffering folks changes dramatically in the presence of a friendly dog in the house. That’s why the Petz Carlton of St. Joseph created the Bark Angels Therapy Dog Program in the first place. Now, they are conducting a major fundraising Garage Sale next month, to help sustain the program.
The Petz Carlton is a doggie daycare and training facility located at 113 Hawthorne Avenue in St. Joseph and their ancillary program of The Bark Angels will host a sizable Garage Sale on Saturday, June 10th from 8am until 4pm with all proceeds going directly to the therapy dog program.
Petz Carlton operator Helen Fasano and her Bark Angels partner Marcia Fettig help patients and physical therapists through one-on-one sessions with the Bark Angel dogs. They are certified therapy dogs who inspire communication, sensory processing, mobility and social skills for all ages. They also do extensive programs with teens, youth and also major work with Autistic children.
Each of the Bark Angels certified dogs is handled by a trained volunteer, and their programs are developed with health care professionals to create specific movements with the patients needs in mind.
The goals of the Bark Angels are to:
- Create a large volunteer base with or without a dog in the program…
- Create a donor base through fundraisers (such as the Garage Sale) and other events…
- Continue to provide the program free of charge to those who need it…
Armed with the vision of “Helping our community one paw at a time,” the Bark Angels hope to see you at their big Garage Sale on Saturday, June 10th beginning at 8am. They appreciate your support.
