| | | | | Coral Ridge Elementary – Lake Worth |
| Canine Assisted Therapy, (C.A.T.), is a 501(c)(3) | | | | Cypress Run Education Center – Pompano |
| non-profit organization founded in August of 2009 | | | | Beach |
| to address the need of companionship for those | | | | Gilda's Club of South Florida – Fort Lauderdale |
| in schools, nursing homes, hospice, assisted living, | | | | Hollywood Hills Rehabilitation Center - Hollywood |
| and hospitals. Since the inception of the | | | | Homewood at Freedom Pointe at the Village – |
| organization detailed background checks have | | | | The Villages |
| been performed on all C.A.T. volunteers; no other | | | | Hospice by the Sea – Boca Raton |
| dog certification organizations in Broward and Palm | | | | Independence Hall – Fort Lauderdale |
| Beach counties have been so diligent. | | | | Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida - |
| | | | | Davie |
| After August 1st these other organizations and | | | | Manor Care Health Services – Plantation |
| the organizations that invite volunteers into their | | | | Meadowlark Inn Assisted Living – Royal Palm |
| facilities, may lose their licensure because the new | | | | Beach |
| law requires that people who care for children, the | | | | Medicana Nursing and Rehab – Lake Worth |
| elderly, and disabled in Florida undergo stricter | | | | Memorial Regional Hospital South - Hollywood |
| background screening requirements. | | | | Pompano Rehab & Nursing – Pompano |
| | | | | Beach |
| The law which passed unanimously by the | | | | Springtree Rehabilitation and Health - Sunrise |
| Legislature this past session was signed by Gov. | | | | ThereaPeeds, Inc. - Davie |
| Charlie Crist at the end of May. It applies to | | | | United Cerebral Palsy – Fort Lauderdale |
| employees and volunteers at day care centers, | | | | Williamsburg Landing – Fort Lauderdale |
| assisted living facilities, home health care agencies, | | | | Willow Brooke Court at St. Andrews – Boca |
| and others working with children and vulnerable | | | | Raton |
| adults. | | | | |
| | | | | Due to this new legislation, C.A.T. is adding |
| Recognizing that Canine Assisted Therapy is | | | | additional Broward and Palm Beach facilities each |
| compliant with the new law ensures that the | | | | week. |
| most vulnerable residents are protected. Canine | | | | |
| Assisted Therapy encourages volunteers to | | | | C.A.T. ( headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, |
| continue making a difference in the lives of | | | | provides certification and placement of therapy |
| children, elderly, and the challenged members of | | | | dogs and their handlers into nursing homes, |
| our community. The organization's founders also | | | | hospitals, group homes, schools and where there |
| want to make sure these facilities are following | | | | is a need for the companionship of a dog. C.A.T. |
| the letter of new law in bringing these wonderful | | | | has a Pack Reader Program to assist grade |
| dogs (and their owners) into their buildings and | | | | school children to improve their reading skills by |
| property. | | | | reading to dogs. C.A.T. has also recently launched |
| | | | | the Teen Corp Program in Oxford, Florida where |
| Debra M. Berger is the Executive Director of | | | | teens work with their dogs to train and prepare |
| C.A.T. recently noted, "We are thrilled to have | | | | them for therapy work. C.A.T.'s certification is |
| many new volunteers because other therapy | | | | valid and recognized throughout the United States. |
| organizations are unable or unwilling to comply | | | | |
| with the new law. We are also receiving many | | | | Canine Assisted Therapy was founded with the |
| requests from facilities requesting our services | | | | sole mission to provide a network of qualified, |
| because we are the only pet therapy organization | | | | dependable, caring Therapy Teams committed to |
| that will be able to visit patients unaccompanied | | | | delivering a therapeutic benefit through the use of |
| by a staff member." | | | | dogs to both children and adults who need |
| | | | | comfort, companionship, or the unconditional love |
| Facilities C.A.T. currently serves: | | | | that only a dog can provide. C.A.T. is |
| | | | | distinguishable from other pet therapy |
| Ann Storck Center - Fort Lauderdale | | | | organizations because of the extensive testing of |
| Avante at Boca Raton – Boca Raton | | | | the dogs to insure proper temperament for |
| Bennett Elementary School - Fort Lauderdale | | | | therapy work, placement of volunteers in facilities, |
| Bethesda Memorial Hospital – Boynton Beach | | | | and overall support of volunteers. |
| Boulevard Rehabilitation Center – Boynton | | | | |
| Beach | | | | |
| Chatworth at PGA – Palm Beach Gardens | | | | Canine Assisted Therapy |
| Children's Diagnostic and Children's Center – | | | | Joanne Jurgle |
| Fort Lauderdale | | | | Asst. |
| Chris Evert Children's Center – Fort Lauderdale | | | | |