Does your dog have the right stuff to be a member of Paws Force, the pet therapy program? In Barron, therapy dogs can brighten a day and help in healing for many patients suffering from illness or injury, as well as those participating in hospice.

Pet Partners' Therapy Animal Program trains volunteers, and screens volunteers and their pets for visiting animal programs in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, schools and other facilities.

The program ensures that both ends of the leash — people, as well as animals — are well-prepared to participate in animal-assisted activity and animal-assisted therapy programs.

Once trained, dogs and their handlers can become part of the Paws Force volunteers.

Your dog may be a good fit for Paws Force if you answer yes to these questions:

• Is your dog friendly and well-behaved?
• Does your dog enjoy meeting new people of all ages?
• Is your dog reliable and friendly around other dogs?
• Has your dog completed several levels of obedience classes in the past two years? Note: these classes must be positive reinforcement-only training programs.

Learn more about the benefits of pet therapy.

For additional details, email Volunteer Services, or call 715-838-3262.

Read our Hometown Health blog about how the pet therapy programs helps patients:

• Cindi Thurston's dog, Watson, brightens the days of hospice patients.
• Meet Piper, the therapy dog with three legs and a nose for healing.