Pawsitive Therapy Program members give line-up salute to frontline health workers

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center’s Dog Therapy Program - “Pawsitive Therapy” - are spreading PAWSitivity in the community!

Since visiting is limited at hospitals, the Pawsitive Therapy Program members came out to give support and encouragement to the hospital workers during their shift change.

Therapy dog teams are screened, educated, trained and must show they are well-mannered, well-behaved and enjoy meeting people before they are certified by the Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD).

All dogs must have proof of vaccines and participate in a three-visit tester to monitor and instruct the teams as part of the qualification process.

The handler-dog teams are entirely made up of volunteers.