Mount Pleasant Pets 2017

16 www.MountPleasant.pet | www.MPVets.pet | www.MTPleasant.pet G U I D E While therapy dogs bring joy to those struggling with grief, illness or emotional upset, they also are helping kids increase their own literary confidence. We all remember the early days of childhood where sounding out words and reading aloud to a group of our peers could possibly bring on anxiety. What if your reading partner had a shiny coat and a nonjudgmental stance? Therapy dogs make monthly appearances at libraries, such as Mount Pleasant Regional and Edgar Allen Poe on Sullivan’s Island, to participate in reading programs designed to help children excel. “Dogs don’t criticize or laugh when one makes a mistake,” said Cynthia King, president of Southeastern Therapy Ani- mal Resources. “Also, there are children who come who are afraid of dogs. It is fun to watch a shy child want to come up to pet our dogs.” King is the proud owner of two standard poodles, Pete and Holly, that accompany her to hospitals, assisted living facilities and schools all across the Lowcountry. “As a founding member of STAR, I’ve watched it grow from seven people sitting on a porch, deciding to start a therapy group, to around 80 members,” said King. “Just knowing how many teams we are helping in the communi- ty is satisfying.” Think your pooch has what it takes to bring smiles to faces throughout the area? King encourages community members to reach out and get involved. “There is no one breed or size of dog that makes a good therapy dog,” said King. “All that is needed is a trained dog – one that enjoys being petted.” From Great Danes to basset hounds, the number of shapes a therapy dog can take is about as varied as the peo- ple and ailments they can help. U ÛiÀ w˜` ޜÕÀÃiv ÃÌÀiÃÃi` >LœÕÌ ÞœÕÀ `>޽à iÛi˜ÌÃ] œ˜Þ ̜ Vœ“i…œ“i >˜` ÃiiŽ Àiˆiv vÀœ“ ޜÕÀ «i̶ Vibra Hospital œv…>ÀiÃ̜˜] œV>Ìi` >Ì £Óää œÃ«ˆÌ> ÀˆÛi ˆ˜ œÕ˜Ì *i>Ã>˜Ì] ՘`iÀÃÌ>˜`à ̅>Ì Ãœ“ï“ià ̅i LiÃÌ “i`ˆVˆ˜i Vœ“ià ˆ˜ ̅i vœÀ“ œv µÕ>ˆÌÞ Ìˆ“i ëi˜Ì ܈̅>˜ˆ“>Ã° 7…i˜ Liˆ˜} ÌÀi>Ìi` vœÀ >˜ ˆ˜iÃÃ] œvÌi˜Ìˆ“ià “œœ` V>˜ Li >vviVÌi`] >˜` ˜œÌ Liˆ˜} ˆ˜ ޜÕÀ œÜ˜…œ“i V>˜ Ì>Ži > ̜° œÜiÛiÀ] Liˆ˜} >Li ̜ ˆ˜ÌiÀ>VÌ ÜˆÌ…ÞœÕÀ «iÌ >``à > LˆÌ œv Vœâˆ˜iÃà ̜ ޜÕÀ …œÃ«ˆÌ> ÃÌ>Þ° /…>Ì½Ã Ü…Þ 6ˆLÀ>…>à ˆ˜VœÀ«œÀ>Ìi` >˜ ˆ˜‡ ˜œÛ>̈Ûi «Àœ}À>“ ̅>Ì >œÜà «>̈i˜Ìà ̜ Ãii ̅iˆÀ vÕÀÀÞ vÀˆi˜`à `ÕÀˆ˜} ÃiiVÌ ÛˆÃˆÌˆ˜}…œÕÀð -ÌÕ`ˆià ÅœÜ ̅>Ì Ì…i «ÀiÃi˜Vi œv >˜ >˜ˆ“> V>˜ >iۈ>Ìi ÃÌÀiÃÃ] œÜiÀ Lœœ` «ÀiÃÃÕÀi >˜` ëii` Õ« ̅i ÀiVœÛiÀÞ «ÀœViÃð /…i i˜ÌiÀà vœÀ ˆÃi>Ãi œ˜ÌÀœ >˜` *ÀiÛi˜Ìˆœ˜ ® >˜` ̅i >̈œ˜> ˜Ã̈ÌÕÌià œv i>Ì… ®…>Ûi Vœ˜`ÕVÌi`…i>À̇Ài>Ìi` ÃÌÕ`ˆià œ˜ «iÌ œÜ˜iÀð /…i w˜`ˆ˜}à ŜÜi` ̅>Ì Ì…œÃi ܅œ œÜ˜ «iÌà i݅ˆLˆÌ `iVÀi>Ãi` Lœœ` «ÀiÃÃÕÀi] V…œiÃÌiÀœ >˜` ÌÀˆ}ÞViÀˆ`i iÛiÃ] ܅ˆV…V>˜ Ài`ÕVi ̅i ÀˆÃŽ œv…>ۈ˜} > …i>ÀÌ >ÌÌ>VŽ° /…i >˜ˆ“>Ã ̅>Ì ÛˆÃˆÌ 6ˆLÀ> “ÕÃÌ Li œv ̅i `œ} œÀ V>Ì Û>ÀˆiÌÞÆ ˜œ iݜ̈V «iÌà >Ài >œÜi`° "ܘiÀà “ÕÃÌ «Àœ‡ ۈ`i «Àœ«iÀ `œVՓi˜Ì>̈œ˜ vÀœ“ > ÛiÌ Vœ˜wÀ“ˆ˜} ̅i >˜ˆ“>½Ã…i>Ì…>˜` Vi>˜ˆ˜iÃð >ˆÃ “ÕÃÌ Li ÌÀˆ““i`] …>ˆÀ “ÕÃÌ Li }Àœœ“i` >˜` ̅i >˜ˆ“>Ã “ÕÃÌ Ài“>ˆ˜ œ˜ > i>Å>Ì > ̈“ið 7>˜Ì ̜ ˆ“«ÀœÛi ޜÕÀ…i>Ì…] «ÀiÛi˜Ì `ˆÃi>Ãi >˜` ÃÌ>Þ ˆ˜ Å>«i¶ č ÌÀˆ« ̜ ޜÕÀ œV> >˜ˆ“> ÀiÃVÕi “>Þ Li ̅i «ÀiÃVÀˆ«Ìˆœ˜ ÞœÕ ˜ii`° East Cooper Animal Hospital is a companion animal practice specializing in canine and feline medicine and surgery. We offer a comprehensive range of veterinary medical services. We schedule appointments with our veterinarians beginning at 8:30AM Monday through Saturday. MARCI SAULS, DVM | ARTISE STEWART, DVM WWW.EASTCOOPERANIMALHOSPITAL.COM 843.884.6171 993 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 staff@eastcooperanimalhospital.com M-F 7:30 am - 6 pm | Sat 8:30 am - Noon East Cooper Animal Hospital looks forward to becoming your partner in providing excellent health care for your pet. Complimentary Exam for First Time Clients When You Mention This Ad!