Biscotti, Renoir, and Mia are therapy pups that do their rounds at Adventist Health Simi Valley hospital during Mondays and Thursdays. Marie Rayburn, their owner and handler, visits each room and asks the patients if they would like a visit from the 3 therapy pups.

Rayburn had her pups certified by Therapy Dogs International – it’s a nonprofit organization that regulates, tests, and registers therapy dogs. Shirley Niell, the hospital’s communications manager, appreciates the presence of Rayburn’s therapy pups because she knows that patients can stay for a longer time. With the 3 furry friends around, time passes by quickly.

Rayburn says that she prepares Biscotti, Renoir, and Mia by bathing them and brushing their teeth. She also dresses them in seasonal outfits to attract patients. When the 3 pups are doing their duty, people are not allowed to feed them – only praise them.

Article source: Simi Valley Acorn

Do you own an assistance animal? Register your pet. 

The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.

Finally, we present to you our book entitled, “ASSISTANCE ANIMAL LAWS: LEARN YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING SERVICE ANIMALS, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS, THERAPY PETS, AND OTHER DOGS, CATS, AND ASSISTANCE ANIMALS” to provide you with a complete education on assistance animals.

Purchase your copy of the book by clicking the text or image below.