By MJ Vieweg
One of the most popular visitors to Covenant House Alaska may well be a dog named Gracie.  Gracie is a highly trained therapy dog who, accompanied by her handler, Linda Shepard, visits the Covenant House residents about once a week.

Not every dog is suited to become a therapy dog, but Gracie is a Golden Doodle, a mix of Golden Retriever and Poodle, and according to her handler, Linda, Gracie is a perfect fit.

“She is very friendly and enters a room with her tag wagging.  She can offer a handshake, a “paw hug” and will even give kisses if invited to do so,” said Linda. “If invited to, Gracie will sit next to one of the residents if they are seated in a chair but many times they will move to the floor.  Gracie will then lay down next to them to let them pet her.  She is a calming presence, and some residents will sit with her for a long time.”

Visits with Gracie often spark conversations between the residents and Linda.  Some residents talk about a dog they had in their life before or Linda might notice that a resident interacts with Gracie in a way that indicates a comfort level with dogs in general.  She will often compliment a resident on their approach to Gracie.

“Sometimes visiting with Gracie can bring up some sadness: a resident may miss a pet they used to have, or be touched by Gracie’s calming, non-judgmental presence. If sometimes tears come, they seem to be healing tears,” said Linda. “A dog like Gracie has an innate ability to connect with someone.”

That ability to connect goes both ways. During a visit with Gracie, when a resident is petting or sitting alongside her, they are giving her affection and attention.  “They can feel good because they are giving and see how Gracie is responding to them with joy,” said Linda.

To become a therapy dog, Gracie went through several levels of training.  Even before beginning the process to become a registered therapy dog, Gracie had to go through obedience training and earn her Canine Good Citizen designation.  Her training as a therapy dog (through pet partners.org) is ongoing.  Linda has had training – to become a therapy dog handler.  Her training is ongoing as well to meet criteria every two years in order to maintain Gracie’s designation as a registered therapy dog. Linda prepares Gracie for her visits by making sure she’s rested and has had some exercise.  Gracie will don a vest, her “uniform” of sorts, when she is going to visit. 

When Linda first reached out to Covenant House about volunteering, she thought she might spend her time in the music room.  Linda plays both the guitar and ukulele. She does on occasion engage with residents in the music room who are interested in learning to play.  When she found out that dog visits were something that was greatly appreciated by both staff and residents, however, that became her primary role.

“Every time I witness the power of Gracie’s love for people, I am overwhelmed with gratitude,” she said. “It is pure joy!”

Interested in volunteering with your own therapy dog? Submit a volunteer form to get started!