I once saw a picture of a child with cancer hugging Felicity’s Diamond Jim aka James. James, the English Springer Spaniel that won the Best in Show at Westminster Kennel Club on February 13, 2007, retired from the show ring and pursued his other career as a therapy dog.

Therapy dogs are needed everywhere, nursing homes, children’s hospitals, rehabilitation homes, etc. in every community. If your Springer is obedient and possess a good temperament, therapy work can be very rewarding for you and your dog.

The history of therapy dogs began in World War II, when an American soldier found a young female adult Yorkshire Terrier in New Guinea on the battlefield during combat with the Japanese. A Corporal Wayne Wynne bought the dog and named her Smoky. Smoky’s small size soon helped her become a hero by running a communication wire in a 70 foot long pipe that was only eight inches around during the construction of a crucial airbase at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon. Smoky’s small feat prevented the need to move 40 aircraft to dig up the taxiway and putting them in jeopardy of enemy bombardment.

Smoky’s therapy work began when Corporal Wynne was hospitalized, and Smoky came to visit him and other soldiers. Smoky instantly began cheering up the soldiers and Dr. Charles Mayo (the Mayo Clinic) saw what a difference Smoky made with the injured soldiers and allowed her to visit and even spend several nights sleeping with Corporal Wynne. Smoky continued to do therapy work for 12 years during the after World War II.

The establishment of therapy dogs is contributed to Elaine Smith, an American who worked in England as a registered nurse. She noticed that patients responded well to a certain chaplain and his Golden Retriever. Upon returning to the US in 1976, Smith started a training program for dogs to do therapy work. Therapy dogs do relieve stress, lowering blood pressure, raise spirits, and help children overcome speech and emotional disorders.

If you think that your best friend can be a source of therapy for others, find a therapy dog organization in your community. They will inform you of the qualifications required and you and your dog will be well on your way to making many new friends!