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Do you know of a Niles event involving 4-legged friends, food, and tricks? Yes, you guessed it right… The Niles Dog Show! Once a year, Niles goes to the dogs! This is a family event that helps the Ohlone Humane Society and NMSA in raising funds for their organizations and bring some fun and cheer to […] |
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“Woobie is a 4-yr-old Newfoundland who became certified with Pet Partners and a registered Ohlone Humane Society therapy team in May of this year. Woobie’s sensitive and lovable demeanor seemed to make her an ideal candidate for therapy. When she is not ‘working’ and giving back to her community, Woobie enjoys hanging with her rabbit, camping, and riding around in her VW bus. Her advice for others that are thinking about becoming a therapy team…don’t give up! It took her (and more importantly her handler) three attempts to pass the Pet Partners certification evaluation. Janine Weston, OHS Animal Assisted Interventions Director, provided encouragement and guidance throughout the entire process to ensure our success.”
– Andie
Wallis was born in December of 2019 and raised during the pandemic for Canine Companions to become a service dog. At 18 months old, Wallis entered professional training for 9 months to become a hearing dog. Wallis has some allergies, so she was eventually released from the service dog program and I adopted her.
Wallis loves people and other animals, she thrives on attention. She was certified as a therapy dog through Pet Partners and enjoys making people smile. Wallis loves to walk, swim, go for car rides, chase balls and snacks.
-Cheri
Joan, a nearly four-year-old Labrador Retriever, has been part of our family since January 2023, when we first met her as an eight-month-old puppy in training for Guide Dogs for the Blind. During that time, our family helped raise and socialize her with the hope that she would one day become a service dog. Although her career path ultimately changed, Joan found her perfect place as a beloved member of our family, and soon after, a therapy dog. Inspired by her calm and gentle nature, Joan and I went through Pet Partners training and evaluation in July 2025.
Joan loves going on walks and hikes, and she never says no to a game of tennis ball or a good snack. While we did not get to choose her name, we like to think of Joan as "Joan of Arc!"
-Neil
Teddy “Bear” Chase is a sweet and goofy 3 year old domestic short hair orange boy. Annie and her mom, Marguerite, foster failed and have had Teddy and his littermate brother since they were 3 weeks old. You can find Annie watching Teddy chase his brother around his cat proof-fenced-in-yard while Marguerite will be watching a show with Teddy sprawled out in front of the gas fireplace. The way to Teddy’s heart is through treats and attention. He loves when people come to the house and watch him complete fanatical leaps chasing the feather at the end of a wand toy.
-Annie & Marguerite
In September 2023, we welcomed two 3-month-old Shiba Inu puppies, Akira and Haruki, into our home. While Haruki has been a proud member of the OHS Pet Therapy team since 2024, we feel Akira is now ready to join his brother in service.
True to his breed, Akira is independent and endlessly curious. He possesses a vibrant energy and a keen interest in the world around him—whether he’s watching the local wildlife or investigating a rustling leaf. While his curiosity has occasionally led to "fragrant" encounters with a neighborhood skunk, it is this same inquisitive nature that makes him so engaging with people.
Akira is a neighborhood favorite. He is exceptionally patient with children, who frequently greet him with hugs and pets. Having seen the joy his brother brings to the community, we are eager to share Akira’s unique spirit and affectionate nature with those in the pet therapy program.
-Felix
37085 Fremont Blvd Fremont, CA 94536
(510) 795-6000
https://www.bogiespetsupply.com
Honey & Cynthia are now retired members of the OHS Pet Therapy Team. We thank them for their many years of bringing smiles to those who needed it most!
“For six months straight, I was looking to adopt a small female adult dog. Then, one morning, Rebecca, a volunteer from Underdog Animal Rescue, contacted me to tell me that I was their first choice to adopt Honey! I was overjoyed.
I was struck by Rebecca’s description of Honey being a very special dog. Rebecca works with adults with disabilities and told me that Honey was wonderful with these adults. She would make a great therapy dog one day. That was all I needed to hear.
I drove to meet Honey and instantly fell in love. Honey had only one big brown right eye, and it was uncertain what had happened to her left eye. A few months later, a vet would tell me that she was born with no left eye.
In May, she and I were registered as a Pet Partners Therapy Dog Team. Rebecca had been right, this was Honey’s calling! By August 2021, Honey has visited three assisted living/memory care units in the area, and we have been asked to become a regular part of their activity programs. The residents love petting her soft fur, feeding her little treats, and asking all about what happened to her eye. She doesn’t need to do much of anything other than allow them to cuddle her.
Honey is indeed special, as every single dog is. This month she flew with me on a plane to Seattle to stay with my son and his young family for a month. She adores my grandchildren and it’s mutual. When we get home, it’s back to therapy work for Honey!”
– Cynthia
“Bentley is a nine-year-old Yellow Labrador Retriever. He is a very mellow dog and loves people and kids in general. Bentley started visiting the Centerville Library for the “Read to Dogs” program about eight years ago. The kids love him. It’s very rewarding to see kids who had never been exposed to a dog suddenly fall in love with him.”
– Karen
“After we lost our 14-year-old Aussie, the house just wasn’t the same without an Aussie. We’ve had almost every color but never a red tri. So, I got on to adoption web sites looking for a red tri. Luckily, Sophie was available from Animal Friends in Santa Cruz, CA.
We had a few requirements before we went through the adoption, must get along with cats and be good around people.
Little did we know that she would be the perfect dog, not only around cats, but she loved everyone. Sophie loves to be petted, talked to, groomed, whatever can be done by putting hands on her.
My wife suggested that she might be a good candidate as a therapy dog. We got an appointment to take Sophie to the Ohlone Humane Society for testing. Once again, she was in her element and passed with ease. She has been active in the Fremont Library’s program “read to the dogs” on the 4th Tuesday of every month. She has become popular with a number of children that come every month, and it is heartwarming to see them seek her out.”
-Noel
“Kodi is an 11 year old White Shepherd Husky mix with the most mesmerizing blue eyes and ears that just never seem to stop listening. I noticed right away that he just had something special about him when he was around other people, especially kids. The calmness and the way he leaned into people. Do not get me wrong he can outrun the fastest and has tons of energy. But he just seems to know that when he is surrounded by kids or adults he is needed. Even if it is just the briefest encounter. I know that all animals are special but every once in a while you encounter one that just seems to have a calling to be a therapy dog. ”
-Selma
“I have always been a dog owner and when my time with Rosy came to an end, it wasn’t long before I felt the need for a new companion. I was looking for a pound puppy but the COVID shut down had just begun and I couldn’t connect with any shelters. I started to look at different breeds and settled on Australian mini labradoodle. None of the Bay Area breeders returned my call. My daughter who lives in Boise found a local breeder near her and that is how Tate (aka Tater Tot) came to me.
He is the best dog I ever had. So smart. His favorite things are bubble chasing, ball fetching, running free along the creek and sitting on any available lap! I am so happy to have found this program, a place where both he and I can volunteer and bring cheer into the lives of people who need cheering up.”
– Ellen
"Hunter came into our lives 6 years ago after we lost our Sheltie. He has brought such joy to our family with his good natured personality and loving nature. We couldn't imagine life without him now. He loves to be around people and will greet just about anyone he meets. He enjoys his walks to the park, rides in the car, and can't wait to eat and have snacks. He is getting used to our new kitten, Maisy. He loves cats, but hasn't quite figured out the energy level of a new kitten! He is the definition of a best friend!"
-Sandi
“We are first time dog owners. I’ve always been afraid of dogs. For years, my kids asked to get a dog but I would always say no. Then Covid hit and we were all stuck at home like the rest of the world. In May of 2020, I finally gave in. We got a dog and fell in love with her right away! All my dog fears went poof and away! Our dog is from a breeder in Michigan. We picked a 3 month old puppy girl. She is a Cavachon (half King Cavalier, half Bichon). We had a family vote on names and the name Summer won the votes!
As all of my three children have different personalities so does Summer. She’s sweet, friendly, can be shy at times, loves to play with ropes, crinkly toys, her pink bouncy ball and sleep with her Snuggle Pup in her crate. I did an online training program called Baxter and Bella. Amazing program since nothing was open for in person training back then. My proudest “first time dog owner training moment” was teaching Summer how to ring a potty bell! It has been quite a useful tool to avoid accidents in the house. Ha ha.
I met Constance and Molly at Washington Hospital while I was volunteering. She told me about OHS. Within a couple of weeks she came to my house, evaluated Summer and here we are volunteering with the OHS Pet Therapy program. Summer and I are excited to be here and look forward to meeting other peeps and dogs through this program. Summer has been such a blessing to our family and hope she can touch other lives on this new journey too.”
– Alisa
“Molly is a beagle and a ‘Covid’ puppy. Since the pandemic kept us at home, it seemed a perfect time to add a puppy to our family. She came to us in June of 2020 at 8 weeks old. And so cute! But her true character was revealed when she was 6 months old. My husband had a serious accident, coming home to recover after 2 weeks in the hospital. Molly was his constant companion, calmly cuddling with him in bed, riding with him in his wheelchair, and accompanying him when he started using a walker.
My husband recovered, and we took Molly camping and hiking with us. She was a big hit with everyone we met and enjoyed all the attention. I started doing some agility training with her, but she made it clear that she preferred meeting people and being petted to jumping through hoops!
One day, I was online looking for volunteer opportunities for myself when I noticed that the Ohlone Humane Society was looking for pet therapy animals. I thought I’d look into it for Molly since it seemed like something she would be good at. We did the Pet Partners training and evaluation in November and had our first facility visit in December! Molly was a star!”
- Constance
“I had a wonderful tuxedo kitty for 14 years, and he was healthy until his last day. I was really sad and I heard there was a tuxedo kitty up for adoption and we had an instant bond. Once we got Mason the car, we noticed he wasn’t fretting, and was really calm. When Mason was 6 months old, we started taking him places on a leash. We got a stroller, and we even took him bowling with us! He wasn’t scared, just curious that we were knocking things over like he does.
Mason is now 4 years old. We got involved with Pet Partners, I took their course, and he passed with a purr-fect score! There aren’t a lot of therapy cats out there. We had one visit in person before the pandemic, and we’ve had a couple of virtual visits, one with a school teacher and their kids. They had fun asking questions about Mason.”
-Marian
“Lilly is a huggable all American bundle of joy. She was born on Valentine’s Day and came to live with us in March of 2015.
She loves road trips – the longer the better! Her favorite drive was to Medford Oregon. Lilly had lots of time to sleep in her car seat, conserving her energy for our arrival.
We attempted to train Lilly to run agility, but she refused to play that game. Since she never gets enough of love and adoration, we decided she should share her love doing pet therapy.”
– Marilyn
“Jessie has been a wonderful companion since we brought her home as an 8-week-old puppy in January of 2018. She is a very active beagle and has earned titles in Agility and AKC trick dog. She even enjoys kayaking! But we soon found her real passion – Jessie loves people! When we travel, everyone wants to meet her. I especially like taking her to visit large groups because she has enough energy to say hello to everyone. She is a great “big sister” to Molly, and I occasionally take both of them on pet therapy visits.”
-Constance
“When we lost Halo, our beloved first Shiba in August 2023, our hearts were heavy with grief. Seeking solace, we turned to a rescue shiba site and serendipitously encountered Haruki and his brother Akira. In Sept 2023, we adopted both Shiba Inus at 3.5 months. Amidst our mourning, they were both steadfast companions, offering a source of comfort and healing, though we were also figuring out the nature of puppies and training aspects.
Haruki’s gentle demeanor and his affinity for nature is evident as he enjoys basking in the sun together with his brother, including chasing runaway leaves and butterflies. He possesses an innate love for humanity, delighting in every belly rub and shared moments of affection.
The notion of Haruki becoming a therapy dog took root after my son shared images of therapy pets visiting his college during finals week in 2023. Inspired by watching a documentary several years ago where kids were reading to pets, plus Haruki’s calm and empathetic nature, I was driven to explore opportunities for him to positively impact others.
As an educator who deeply believes in the transformative power of literature, the prospect of Haruki participating in the Read to a Dog program ignited my enthusiasm. I was elated to have found OHS to be part of the community I live in. Combining the therapeutic benefits of companionship with the joy of reading, it seemed perfect for Haruki and our family to give back.
Haruki’s innocence and serene presence bring immeasurable joy into our lives. We are hopeful that his gentle spirit will not only continue to uplift our spirits but also spread happiness to all those he encounters.”
-Sandra
“Hana is a golden retriever who came to us at the start of the pandemic after we lost our second golden. She spent her first year playing with her siblings as we got together weekly in our “puppy pod”. I had done pet therapy work with my first golden over 30 years ago and always knew that I wanted to get back into it and Hana was a perfect candidate. She loves people, especially kids and teenagers, and will happily roll over for belly rubs.
We walk every morning on a horse trail so she sees lots of horses, cows, wild birds and occasional foxes as she walks with her large pack. She loves to start off her mornings cuddling in the chair with me as I enjoy my morning coffee. She is also a fantastic first mate for my husband on his sailboat and enjoys being out on the SF bay 2-3 times a week.
While full grown, she is on the smaller size for a golden so I call her my petite golden. She is the perfect size for cuddling!”
– Bridget
“Grinch is a 1.5-year-old Golden Retriever. He was 9 months old when I first met him in August 2023. Grinch is an intelligent and affectionate dog, he loves to greet people & enjoys being petted, so I figured that he would be a great therapy dog. He has a lot of energy but is very gentle, especially with children & small animals. He gets along very well with cats – he grew up with 3 cats.
Everything you hold, Grinch will always check out. He is curious about everything he has not seen and is very open with absolutely no fear of checking it out. Grinch brings a lot of joy and happiness to my family, and I would love to share his affectionateness, tenderness, and love with others.”
-Ken
“Fiona joined my family at 8 weeks old In 2014. She loves to be active running the agility course, chasing balls, and fetching nerf darts. Fiona is a great love always looking for a pet or cuddle and willing to give a kiss.”
– Tiffany
“Dinah is a 4 year old SphynxieBob who was brought home on July 19th 2020. Named after singer Dinah Washington she too has great pipes, especially around food! She loves traveling in the car and getting to meet new people who she can solicite pets and attention from. Her hobbies include rollerblading, walks in the pet store and is looking to pick up biking and kayaking. She looks forward to giving back as a therapy cat and meeting new faces.”
-Alex
“Clay is an eight-year-old poochon (poodle and bichon mix). He became part of our family at 9 months when his first family could no longer care for him, as they left the country unexpectedly. We feel so blessed that Clay came into our lives. His favorite daily routine is to find the softest, coziest spot in the house to lounge, whether it is on a bean bag chair, a pillow that fell on the floor, or a pile of fresh laundry. Although he is friendly with dogs and cats, he prefers socializing with people both young and old. This is because he loves to be petted, scratched behind his ears, and get belly rubs. He will communicate that he wants you to pet him by nudging your hand with his nose.
We thought he would be a good therapy dog because he would brighten up those around him and bring a smile to their face. Someone once mentioned that he gives off “positive vibes.” Clay’s journey to becoming a therapy dog began when our family took the Canine Good Citizen training class every Sunday evening for six weeks, with Clay, to hone his skills. On the first day of class, Clay was so shy that he hid under our chair, and it took some coaxing for him to participate in class. However, he learned quickly and passed the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Certification test on the first try. We met Constance and Molly for an evaluation, and Clay was accepted to the Ohlone Pet Therapy Team. As a team, Clay, Christine (junior pet therapy handler), and Patty are committed to spreading joy and smiles in our community!”
– Christine and Patty
“Burnie Kotsubo was a rescue of sorts. He was brought into the family to be a companion to my elderly grandmother, but he failed his training because he was too happy and too much puppy! As he’s grown up over the years and continued to work on his training and behavior, he has grown to follow most orders while retaining his love for everything that moves. He loves to snuggle and he loves to be pet, but he also loves to play.”
-Amy
“Barkley came to live with us in January 2020 at the ripe old age of 10 weeks. He was a small puppy, which we had picked out so we could travel with him. The first thing to grow were his feet which became large. While he was supposed to be 35 to 40 pounds we have a 60 pound Australian Labradoodle to love.
He has lots of energy, is quite smart and a bit mischievous when not getting the attention he believes he is entitled too. He is friendly with both dogs and people. He loves to go to doodle romps and play chase with the others. He takes great interest in stalking and treeing squirrels. While very curious and excited about all things, he is gentle with people and loves to be petted and scratched.
When we strap on our therapy team stuff he is all business. He knows he will get lots of pets and back scratches and he will unconditionally provide comfort and a moment of joy to all he visits. We enjoy visiting schools, hospitals, senior living facilities and hospice facilities.”
– Bob
