The Human-Animal Connection 83 From Destructive Dog to Therapy Dog

About this episode

The episode discusses Toby, a destructive rescue dog who became a therapy dog and positively impacted the lives of many individuals, including children and psychiatric patients.

Toby was an adopted rescue who was fear-reactive and couldn’t be left at home without leaving a trail of destruction. He destroyed twelve toilet lids! Author Charmaine Hammond brought in an animal behavioralist who told her Toby needed a job. After passing his Therapy Dog Test, Toby became a wonderful ambassador of healing for all he met. He had a five-year career visiting a psychiatric hospital where he met each patient as a unique individual, giving them complete attention and knowing how to engage differently with each one. Then we went on to visit schools and inspired young children to accept themselves. When Toby singled them specifically out in the crowd, to give them a dose of pure love, their lives blossomed. He even inspired a shy young boy who had been bullied to write his own story. Toby’s adventures are featured in four books, including “On Toby’s Terms” and “Toby’s Forever Family,” written by Charmaine Hammond, who also helps people and individuals find ways to connect with sponsors for their programs. EPISODE NOTES: From Destructive Dog to Therapy Dog/a> Become a supporter of this podcast…

People in this episode

Guest: Charmaine Hammond

Topics covered

• therapy dogs
• animal behavior
• mental health
• child development
• rescue dogs

Keywords

• therapy dog
• animal behaviorist
• mental health
• children
• rescue dog

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: On Toby’s Terms, Toby’s Forever Family

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