Happy 2015! I can’t believe how quickly the 10th Anniversary of Bright Spot Therapy Dogs flew by and we now look to our next decade of bringing comfort and caring to people of all ages through the human-canine bond. As the founder and executive director of Bright Spot, I want to extend my sincere thanks to all the many people who have made it possible for our therapy dog organization to grow and flourish.
As we look back over our ten year history, Bright Spot Therapy Dogs (Bright Spot) has much to be proud of. Over the last ten years, Bright Spot has made outstanding strides promoting wellness among people of all ages through the use of therapy dogs. Thanks to the generous support of donors, foundations, and sponsors, Bright Spot has trained and certified over two hundred therapy dog teams. That translates into over 1,000,000 visits made to children, adults, and elders in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, colleges, libraries, mental health facilities, hospice care, soldiers homes, and Alzheimer’s units. Each year, our numbers grow, both in volunteers and facilities requesting our services, adding to those being served through our no-fee-for-service visits.
In recent years, we have instituted the Bright Spot Reading Buddy Program that now services elementary and middle schools in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Worcester counties of Massachusetts. Children enjoy reading to the sweet gentle therapy dogs that are specially trained as reading buddies while improving their reading skills and developing a love of reading. Early in 2014, we established a partnership with the internationally renown Eric Carle Museum in South Amherst, Massachusetts, where children can now sign-up in advance to read to one of our Bright Spot reading buddies. Children visiting the museum from all areas of the country and abroad have had an opportunity to participate in our program at the Eric Carle Museum.
Wellness on college campuses is a huge issue. Stress among college-age students is high. Bright Spot has been called in by colleges throughout western Massachusetts to hold therapy dog events during mid-term and final exams, offering relief from the high pressures of studying and sitting for exams. Students have commented, This is the best thing our school has ever done!
Our veterans living at The Soldiers Home in Holyoke, Massachusetts, receive comfort and cheer from fifteen Bright Spot therapy dog teams that visit there every third Saturday of the month. In addition, we have several therapy dog teams that make weekly visits to the soldiers at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Leeds, Massachusetts. And, the list of growing programs goes on.
With advances in research pointing to the therapeutic effect of human-canine interaction, therapy dogs are in great demand. Our Board of Directors will meet in January to chart the course for the second decade of Bright Spot Therapy Dogs, Inc.
If you believe in the meaningful work our therapy dog teams are doing, and would like to show your support with a tax-deductible contribution, you will help ensure the future of Bright Spot and increase the use of therapy dogs as an alternative form of therapy. Donations are made payable to: Bright Spot Therapy Dogs, Inc., and mailed to: P.O. Box 132, Leeds, MA 01053-0132. Your gift will go a long way in bringing smiles to the faces of those in need. Thank You!