Celebrating JFCS’ Therapy Dogs

August is National Dog Month, the perfect time to shine the spotlight on the therapy dogs who bring smiles to the faces of JFCS clients and employees year-round.

Wendy Brishke, director of the Michael R. Zent Healthcare Center (MRZ), is the pet parent of MRZ’s two therapy dogs named Dazzle (age 7.5) and Charm (age 2.5). Both dogs are golden retrievers and specifically bred and trained to be working therapy dogs.

“To be a therapy dog, they must have solid demeanor and basic obedience to start,” Brishke explains. “Then, they must pass a national test to be registered with one of three nationwide agencies.”

“Therapy dogs help in a variety of ways,” she continued. “Research studies show that petting a dog will reduce cortisol levels and increase oxytocin. This allows clients to remain regulated for longer periods of time, leading to decreased stress during treatment. We are also able to co-regulate with mammals. As a result, we can teach people to co-regulate with an animal and transfer that skill to a trusted adult and finally to self-regulation. People often find it easier to trust animals with this vulnerability than other people.”

Charm and Wendy showing off their Fourth of July spirit last month at Michael R. Zent Healthcare Center.

In addition, both Dazzle and Charm boost morale and provide encouragement. “People form attachments to the animal, making it an incentive for them to return to treatment when it becomes challenging,” Brishke adds.

For Dazzle, this isn’t her first time working as a therapy dog. She used to work at Phoenix Children’s, providing comfort to sick children. But now, both her and Charm clock in five days a week at MRZ.

But it’s not all work and no play for the pair of goldens. Brishke shares that, in their off time, Dazzle enjoys diving off docks and swimming whenever she gets a chance. And as for Charm, he loves to relax from a busy day at work by watching TV. One of his favorite channels is Animal Planet, of course.

Dazzle and her JFCS handler participating in twin day for Michael R. Zent Healthcare Center’s employee appreciation week.

In addition to the dynamic duo of Dazzle and Charm, JFCS also benefits from Director of Eligibility & Enrollment Alex Warren’s love of owning and training therapy dogs.

Warren is a pet parent to four golden retrievers, including Wrigley (age 7) and Magnificent Mighty Quinn (age 2), who are both working therapy dogs for JFCS and other organizations across the Valley. Her other two goldens are Hank the Hero and London Hope, both age 5, who hold it down on the home front while Wrigley and Quinn go to work.

Wrigley has been a therapy dog since 2018 and has earned multiple accolades from the American Kennel Club (AKC) over his career – in fact, he’s only 60 or so visits away from the AKC Therapy Dog Distinguished award that honors dogs who have done 400 therapeutic visits.

“Wrigley is trained to work independent of the handler and can be checked out by the hour to work with kids and adults that have suffered trauma,” Warren explained.

Wrigley wore his best tie for picture day at JFCS Administration with pet parent Alex.

His furry colleague Quinn has completed multiple AKC tests and will be going for his official therapy dog in September.

Warren said that both Wrigley and Quinn have passed multiple tests and trainings to be able to help clients be comforted, reduce anxiety, help with depression and low self-esteem, work with those with autism and relieve feelings of anger as well.

In addition to JFCS, Wrigley and Quinn also work at Valleywise Health Medical Center. “They help in the ER, pediatrics, physical therapy and the burn unit,” Warren says. “They also work at assisted living facilities, too.”

At JFCS though, perhaps one of Wrigley’s most joyous annual jobs is passing out toys for the holidays. “He has a wagon full of toys for kids,” Warren says.

And, of course, it’s not all about the grind. “While they are working dogs, whenever they don’t have on their working vests, they run and play,” Warren says.

Learn more about JFCS’ services here.