Welcome, Dora, CAC's Therapy Dog (in training)

Thanks to a new community partner, SOUL Harbour Ranch, CAC has our first four-legged employee! Dora, an English Labrador puppy, is now the therapy-dog-in-training with Yesenia Hernandez, a CAC Bilingual Trauma Therapist (pictured left).

"I have always believed in the connection between humans and animals, especially dogs," Hernandez shared. "I believe that dogs are intuitive and have the ability to bring comfort, joy and calm, and I have had a long-term dream/vision of being able to have a therapy dog facilitate these experiences with individuals in therapy.  When this opportunity came up to serve as Dora’s handler and have her be a part of my family, it felt like my vision was coming to life."

Jodie Diegel, founder of SOUL Harbour Ranch in Barrington, oversees Barrington's most experienced and comprehensive Animal Therapy Program incorporating therapy dogs, a therapy cat and therapy miniature horses. The organization received a $5,000 donation from volunteer Dawn Grubbs, which covered Dora's placement as a future therapy dog at CAC.

Dora, along with her brother Oliver who is the new Barrington Police Department therapy dog, will be "...loved and trained by their handlers with the guidance of SOUL Harbour Ranch and our fabulous certified dog trainer, LuAnne Smith, who also oversees the Northwest Community Hospital Animal Assisted Therapy training and Chicagoland Dog Rescue," Diegel explained. Dora and Oliver need to be at least one year old to become registered therapy dogs, although most dogs continue their training and pass their test when they are one and a half to two years old.

CAC is excited to share Dora's and Yesenia's journey over the coming months and look forward to introducing her to our friends when Dora is ready for her public debut!

We are also so thankful to have connected with Jodie Diegel at the Barrington Area Community Foundation awards breakfast and grateful for her facilitating the generous gift of Dora and the ongoing training and support!

Ways that CAC friends can help support Dora will be coming soon!