Have you ever just known when something is meant to be? You have this feeling you know exactly what’s in the future for you? This is how Courtney felt as her new, rescued puppy began to grow up. Within their first year together, Courtney knew big things were in store for her and Tink. This is the story of life with Tink the Therapy Dog.
A Rescued Puppy
Courtney rescued Tink from the Wisconsin Humane Society (Milwaukee campus) in July of 2014. Suddenly she was dog mom to a three pound, 8 week old yorkie-poo! Courtney describes Tink as a sweet, smart, happy, loving little girl. With everyone she meets, whether it’s the staff or students at the school where Courtney teaches, the people in the drive-thru, residents at the nursing home, or the strangers walking by on the street, she always manages to put a smile on their faces.
Courtney says, “I never knew it was possible that you could love something more and more each day, but Tink has shown me that is absolutely possible. Tink is living proof that dogs give unconditional love.
There is an endless list when it comes to all of the things that I love about her. When you need cheering up, she’s doing something that will make you laugh. When you’re absolutely drained from a long day, she’s right there snuggled up next to you. And when you have tears running down your face, she’s there to lick your tears away. She is very good about being exactly what you need, when you need it.”
Becoming a Therapy Dog
In Courtney’s words, “It has been a dream of mine to have a therapy dog, but I knew that it would take a special dog to become a therapy dog. As I watched Tink grow in her first year of life, I knew immediately she was destined to be a therapy dog because of her incredible personality.”
After completing several class sessions, little Tink achieved the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) award. With this, it was time to train and prepare to become a therapy dog. After seven weeks of classes Courtney and Tink were evaluated to see if they qualified as a therapy dog team. According to Courtney, “I’ll never forget the day of the test. I was a nervous wreck. At the very end of the test, once I found out we had passed, I immediately broke out into tears. I remember apologizing for crying and I even remember telling them, ‘I’m sorry I don’t know why I’m crying so much’ and the evaluator said back, “it’s because this means so much to you,” and it did.”
Therapy Dog Duties
As a team, Tink and Courtney go to a local nursing home in Kenosha where they visit with the residents once a month. Together they see the residents in the memory care wing. According to Courtney, many of the residents are non-verbal, but the smiles on their faces when they are petting Tink are words enough.
Aside from the nursing home, Tink goes to school with Courtney about 2-3 times a month. Tink also goes to school on special occasions. Courtney teaches 3rd grade in a classroom of 20 students, and in her classroom, they are a family. Of course Tink has become an integral part of that family (she’s just a family member that is furry and has 4 legs).
Every day in the classroom, Tink is incorporated throughout the day even when she’s not there. Courtney’s students talk about Tink non-stop. Courtney says, “There is such an incredible and indescribable feeling about having something you love, my students, interact with something else that I love tremendously, Tink. Being able to watch their faces light up when they see her, to watch that smile spread across their face when she’s giving them her famous Tink kisses, it’s the best feeling in the world.
I have watched firsthand, students who were angry/upset immediately relax the moment they interact with Tink. I wish more people could experience the love a dog brings to the classroom.”
Learning Opportunities
These students have had to learn a lot about having a dog in the classroom. With Tink, they learn about responsibility, empathy, and so much more. Also, the students are very good about learning and reading nonverbal cues from Tink (i.e. if her tail is tucked in, they know she’s scared).
These children are wonderful about monitoring their voice level as to not scare her or stress her out. They are even so cute that they will often tell their classmates “shhhhh” when they see Tink sleeping! Courtney says, “There is such a beauty that comes with having a therapy dog in the classroom, that I wish other classrooms could also experience. Not only do the students in the school love when Tink comes in, but so does the staff! Many staff members will pop in to my classroom just to get some Tink love!”
Tink at Home
When Tink is not doing therapy work, she LOVES to play fetch. According to Courtney, this little dog has well over thirty mini tennis balls around her home!
Tink’s favorite game is to bring the tennis ball to the top of the stairs, drop it down the steps, and wait for someone to throw it back up so she can catch it, and do it all over again. Courtney says she’ll often be downstairs and suddenly hear “thunk, thunk, thunk,” and that’s the cue to stop everything and play fetch with Tink! And how cute is this, Tink also loves to play hide-n-seek!
Final Thoughts
To be a successful therapy dog team, it helps to have a strong bond with your dog. Courtney says about Tink, “When I look at her, I am completely filled with love. She has brought so much happiness and joy to my life. Even on my hardest and darkest days, she is my light. On days that I can’t find the sunshine, she is my sunshine. When I see how she touches the lives of my students, my heart becomes instantly full. I couldn’t ask for a better life.”
Our community is much brighter because of Tink and Courtney. Together they are touching hearts and changing lives. Imagine the gift they are giving the children who learn compassion, responsibility, and empathy because of one little dog. And seniors who have a brighter moment in their day when Tink stops by to share her love. That is life with Tink the therapy dog, and this is a therapy dog team I am honored to know.
If you think you and your dog would make a great therapy dog team, check out Intermountain Therapy Animals (the organization that certified Tink), or Therapy Dogs International to learn more.
Photo credit: Courtney W. and Shadow Dog Photography
When I open your RSS feed it puts up a bunch of trash, is the issue on my side?
Najtrudniejsza rzecz w zyciu to nauczyc sie, ktlre mosty przekraczac, a ktlre palic. – David Russell
Thanks, I have just been searching for information approximately this topic for
a long time and yours is the best I’ve came upon till now.
But, what concerning the bottom line? Are you sure about the source?
my website Green Healing CBD Reviews
Simply a smiling visitant here to share the love (:, btw
great pattern.
Feel free to surf to my website … Full Releaf CBD Reviews
I actually wanted to send a small message in order to appreciate
you for those remarkable advice you are posting on this site.
My prolonged internet search has now been rewarded with reliable suggestions
to write about with my friends and family. I ‘d tell you that we site visitors are rather lucky to exist in a decent community with many wonderful professionals with insightful concepts.
I feel very much lucky to have discovered your entire web pages and look forward
to plenty of more fun times reading here. Thank you again for
everything.
Here is my web site: Pure Spectra CBD
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good.
I don’t know who you are but definitely you’re going to a famous blogger if you are not already 😉 Cheers!
Also visit my web site :: Nature Tonics Keto Reviews
What a information of un-ambiguity and preserveness of valuable knowledge on the topic of unexpected
emotions.
Also visit my blog post – http://allaboutfirelighters.qhub.com/member/2104273
This blog was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I’ve found something which helped me.
Cheers!
Have a look at my web blog :: Silencil For Tinnitus
Hello, Neat post. There’s a problem along with your
web site in web explorer, might check this? IE still is the market
leader and a good portion of people will pass over your magnificent writing
because of this problem.
Feel free to surf to my page; http://www.makemoneydonothing.com/user/profile/142695
Hi there! Someone in my Facebook group shared this website with us so I came to give it a look.
I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m bookmarking
and will be tweeting this to my followers! Superb blog and superb style and design.
I really appreciate this post. I’ve been looking
everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve
made my day! Thank you again!
Check out my website http://selfcampro.com/
I like your writing style truly loving this website.
Also visit my web blog https://searchgatein.com/author/aishaserra2/
hey there and thank you for your info ? I?ve
definitely picked up something new from right here.
I did however expertise several technical points using this web site, as I experienced to reload the web site a lot of times previous to I could get it to
load correctly. I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK?
Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will very frequently affect
your placement in google and can damage your high quality
score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this
RSS to my e-mail and could look out for a lot more of your respective intriguing content.
Make sure you update this again soon..
Visit my site … https://silencilreview.net/
Link exchange is nothing else except it is only placing
the other person’s website link on your page at proper
place and other person will also do similar for you.
Excellent way of telling, and pleasant piece of writing to obtain information concerning my presentation subject, which i am going to deliver in school.
Also visit my site – https://car-nicobar.indiaolx.com/user/profile/34784
Truly loads of superb facts.
Best Essay writing
cheap essay writing service https://onlineessayforyou.com
Truly loads of superb facts.
Best Essay writing
cheap essay writing service
Since the admin of this website is working, no uncertainty very quickly it will be well-known, due to its quality contents.
Also visit my website … Keto Slim Cut
I am glad to be one of many visitants on this great site (:, appreciate it for
posting.
Here is my web site: Vita Grow XL Pills
Excellent blog here! Additionally your site lots up fast!
What host are you the use of? Can I get your associate hyperlink to your host?
I wish my website loaded up as quickly as yours lol.
my webpage: Keto Rx Pills
I am really impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your weblog.
Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself?
Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it’s rare to see a nice blog like this one nowadays.
Check out my web page: FitBurn Keto
Excellent post. I was checking constantly this weblog and I am impressed!
Extremely helpful info specifically the closing section 🙂 I deal
with such info a lot. I was seeking this particular info for a long time.
Thank you and good luck.
Here is my blog: http://fitburnketo.org/
Some really prize blog posts on this internet site, saved to fav.
Here is my website … http://jenniferdludwick.qhub.com/member/2112517
Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It really useful &
it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and aid others like you
helped me.
Review my website – Beach Keto Diet
I keep listening to the newscast speak about receiving boundless online grant
applications so I have been looking around for the most excellent site
to get one. Could you tell me please, where could i find some?
Stop by my homepage Pure Keto Extra Review
I’m still learning from you, as I’m trying to reach my
goals. I absolutely liked reading everything that is written on your
site.Keep the posts coming. I loved it!
Check out my site; Self Cam Pro Reviews
Because the admin of this site is working, no
uncertainty very rapidly it will be well-known, due to its quality contents.
Review my web site :: Super Keto Max Reviews
Keep up the great piece of work, I read few content on this site and
I believe that your web site is real interesting and contains bands
of excellent information.
My web-site – Boomin Keto Review
Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your site and in accession capital to assert that
I acquire in fact enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I will be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you access consistently quickly.
Feel free to surf to my homepage :: http://simpleketoburns.net/
Your method of describing everything in this piece
of writing is in fact good, every one be capable of simply know it, Thanks a lot.
Usually I do not learn article on blogs, however I
would like to say that this write-up very forced me to check out
and do so! Your writing style has been amazed me. Thank you, quite
great article.
my blog post 1 Shot Keto Diet
We still can’t quite assume that I could possibly be one of
those reading the important guidelines found on this blog.
My family and I are sincerely thankful on your generosity and for presenting
me the chance to pursue this chosen profession path.
Appreciate your sharing the important information I obtained from your web page.
Visit my web page … Green Leaf Healing CBD Reviews
Piece of writing writing is also a excitement, if you be acquainted with then you can write or
else it is complicated to write.
Feel free to surf to my web page http://www.articledude.com/classifieds/user/profile/306719
Wiecie kim jest prawdziwy intelektualista? To ktos, kto znalazl cos bardziej interesujacego niz kobialki… 🙂