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Animal Assisted Therapy
Parker is a registered Pet Partners therapy dog approved to work in 'complex' environments. He visits 4 hospitals in the Portland area - Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU), Kaiser Radiation Oncology at Interstate Hospital, and Kaiser Westside Clinic. He responds to special requests at other hospitals in the area on demand so long as hospitals approve his visit. He also volunteers at the Beaverton Library with Read to the Dogs, a reading program for kids to learn to read. Parker visits preschools, elementary, middle and high schools, as well as colleges. He is also works the Washington County Sheriff's Office, Washington County K9 Crisis and with Cascade Canine Crisis Response. Parker also works both inside and outside the courtroom for Washington County Juvenile Services. He is an AKC Therapy Dog Distinguished (THDD).
Read to the Dogs is an amazing program designed to give children the confidence they need to learn. Dogs provide a caring, non-judgmental environment where children can practice reading without the fear of being made fun of or corrected.
Parker's work with cancer patients stems back to his family's own battle with cancer. In 2006 Parker's 2-legged dad battled an aggressive form of cancer.
Giving back to those who are fighting for their lives is therapeutic not only to the patients, but also to the therapy team, who knows what it's like and who has 'been there.'
