Sue Anderson’s retirement has ‘gone to the dogs’

By Jane Smith

SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE

Sue Anderson is a retired school teacher who now spends a lot of her time with dogs as a volunteer with the PAWS Hand Delivered Therapy Dogs program, the local organization of the National Alliance of Therapy Dogs of Cheyenne, Wyoming.

She not only takes the dogs for visits to nursing homes, hospitals, courtrooms and about anywhere there is an interest, she also helps to train and evaluate the dogs and trains volunteers.

The original program was started by Ruth Prest and Robin Peterson in 2006 with seven or eight dogs. When they chose to give it up, Anderson stepped up to take it over.

See ANDERSON, Page A6

Continued from Page A1 She has no regrets, noting she loves the program and the animals. She previously was owner of the Bark Park so has a natural love of dogs.

The program has expanded to include 42 volunteers and has eight more ready to be trained to show support to others — be it a small child or an elderly person.

Anderson previously was a volunteer with Court Appointed Special Advocates, a program in which folks work with children to recommend to the courts what they believe is best for the youngsters. At the time, she said, she thought “something could be done with the dogs,” referring to support dogs.

A friend told her that her dog would make a good support dog. She didn’t think so. “He’s a mutt,” she said, noting she “rescued him from under a trailer in Cochranton.”

“There’s something different about him,” the friend told her. “You have to go do that,” the friend encouraged her. And, the friend was right. The rescued dog became Anderson’s first therapy dog and was excellent. Since that time Anderson has had eight therapy dogs.

Although she has been a school teacher and a volunteer with other organizations, she said PAWS is the “most rewarding thing I have ever done. ... Just seeing the look on people’s faces” when they see the dogs. All the handlers feel that way,” she added.

The dogs range from seven pounds to 150 pounds and must be “well behaved and get along with other dogs.” But the most important thing is they have to be able to be on a leash without the handler pulling them.

The volunteers travel throughout Crawford County with 37 places on their routes. Nursing homes are a popular site as residents often have to give up their dogs, and Anderson said the smiles on their faces when they see the dogs is so rewarding.

She also takes dogs to places like the Yolando G. Barco Oncology Institute, where patients receive treatment for cancer. Anderson said the staff is well acquainted with the program and the patients. Lat week, she got a call from the center that one patient was there and it was his birthday. Anderson took her dog and made a stop to see the patient.

“When he saw the dog, tears were rolling down his cheek,” Anderson said, noting the impact the dogs have on people.

“Comfort, support and love” is the program’s mission and Anderson said it is shown over and over again.

One of the weekly stops is the Marquette Hospice House where residents are always glad to have a visit.

Another unusual stop is the Crawford County Judicial Center where she works with the guardian ad litem program which gives support to children.

She also has a very close relationship with Meadville Medical Center for its patients.

In addition, volunteers take dogs to one-time events to expose the program to others who may be interested in the services for themselves or others. The services are offered free of charge.

It is one way the volunteers can help others and receive the satisfaction of seeing a smile a dog puts on a person’s face.

Anderson also is a member of the Conneaut Lake Area Business Association board of directors, staying active in her retirement. In addition to being a school teacher for decades, she also drove school bus.

She encourages others who may be interested in becoming a volunteer to contact her. She believes they also would find it rewarding.