Sprinkles, one of the four-legged members of Hot Springs Pet Therapy, visits Rachel Moore at The Springs of Red Oak.
If volunteering is on your list of New Year’s resolutions, Hot Springs Pet Therapy (HSPT) has a fun and rewarding opportunity for you – and your dog! A not-for-profit organization, HSPT brings pets and people together as a form of therapy. Volunteer members take their temperament-tested dogs to visit the elderly in nursing homes and other facilities throughout Hot Springs. They also visit staff at National Park Medical Center.
“We love seeing people light up when our pups come for a visit,” said HSPT President Leslie Fisher. “Many people in residential care facilities have had to give up their own pets, so they really appreciate having the opportunity to connect with our animals. It just brings a little bit of joy to their day and, as the volunteer, it makes you feel good about being able to facilitate that.”
To be eligible for HSPT, your dog must be up-to-date on its rabies vaccinations, at least one year old, and in your care for at least six months. To learn more about becoming a member, please join us at our next meeting on Saturday, January 18, at 2 p.m.
Hot Springs Pet Therapy meets in the Maurice Room at National Park Medical Center, 1910 Malvern Ave.
“Please note,” stated Fisher, “we do not bring our pets to these meetings.” For more information, please visit www.hotspringspettherapy.org or call 501-844-5436.
