Are you a dog lover? Most people are, and even if you’re not, most dogs love humans regardless of how you feel about them. The bond between humans and dogs is a special one, unlike anything else in the natural world. Dogs have an innate ability to understand and respond to our emotions, offering comfort in times of distress and sharing in our joy during moments of happiness. Not to take away from human relationships, but dogs exemplify unconditional love. This special bond was at the heart of our decision to welcome a new dog into our lives and train him as a therapy dog. Here’s the story of Loki, our new therapy dog.
Last spring, we were at McCurry Park on the east side of Fayetteville. I was spectating and cheering on the Fayette County Fire Department at the baseball portion of the Public Safety Games. My wife, Mary Catherine, was at the Fayette Parks & Recreation Dog Days of Summer event happening in the park at the same time. After watching Fayette County Fire beat Peachtree City in the finals, I climbed the hill up to the football practice area where the Dog Days event was taking place. Here’s a picture of what I saw.
Mary Catherine Domaleski with Loki on his gotcha day last spring. It seemed appropriate to get his picture in front of the Fayette County fire safety bus. Photo/Joe Domaleski
Once I saw Mary Catherine with the dog, I somehow knew he was coming home with us (even though we weren’t really looking to adopt). We already have an older dog at home named Thor. He’s been a great dog, but he’s starting to slow down. Like me, he has a little arthritis. Maybe Thor needed a buddy? Originally named Lucky, we decided to rename the new dog Loki to complement our existing dog Thor. The names Lucky and Loki sound so similar that Loki (as we now called him) responded immediately to his rebranding.
As dog lovers, we both immediately fell in love with Loki, a spirited and affectionate rescue dog. We had to sign some papers with Bully Wag, the adoption agency, and have a trial period to make sure it was going to be a good fit for us, Thor, and Loki. Gone are the days when you can just pick up “pound puppies” and take them home. Most pet support organizations have a trial period so that there’s a long-term relationship, which cuts down on pet abandonment. After the trial period, more paperwork, and a trip to the vet, Loki became a permanent member of our family.
Loki has become an integral part of our lives, not just as a beloved pet but also as a loving therapy dog. With the expert guidance of a local dog trainer, we (mostly Mary Catherine) diligently trained Loki, and we couldn’t be prouder of the progress he’s made. I won’t go into details about the process, but it wasn’t easy. He had to pass a rigorous behavior test and several practicums in public places and at nursing homes. A local field examiner for the Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD) and the American Kennel Club (AKC) did a great job administering the tests and certifying Loki.
During this process, I learned about the difference between service dogs and therapy dogs. Here’s the difference:
Mary Catherine Domaleski holding the American Kennel Club certification ribbons earned by Loki the therapy dog. Photo/Joe Domaleski
Service Dogs are specially trained to assist individuals with disabilities. They perform specific tasks that help their owners manage their daily lives, such as guiding the visually impaired, alerting the deaf, or providing support for those with mobility issues. Service dogs have legal access to public spaces to support their owners.
Therapy Dogs, like Loki, are trained to provide comfort and emotional support to a wide range of people, often in settings such as hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. They do not have the same access rights as service dogs and are always accompanied by their handler during visits. Therapy dogs are primarily there to bring joy, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being.
So, we decided to go the therapy dog route for two main reasons. First, and most obvious, is that Loki has a very gentle and calm nature. From the moment we met Loki, it was clear that he had a natural disposition for providing comfort. His gentle demeanor, combined with his ability to stay calm in various situations, made him an ideal candidate for therapy work.
Secondly, it’s our desire to help others in the community. While a service dog typically serves the need of a single human, therapy dogs provide support for groups of people. We saw an opportunity to contribute positively to the lives of others, particularly those in need of emotional support. As I mentioned earlier, there’s something magical and uplifting about the bond between humans and dogs. We wanted to share the joy Loki brings to us with others, especially in settings like hospitals, schools, and nursing homes, where his presence could brighten someone’s day. He also brightens our day at home.
Mary Catherine and Loki inside the Georgia Tech bookstore last weekend welcoming students, including the author, back to school. The bookstore is dog friendly if you get permission. Photo/Joe Domaleski
We’ve been amazed at how well Loki has been received in the community, especially by children. People seem naturally drawn to his “eye patch.” Older folks, like us, see him and remember Petey the dog from The Little Rascals TV show. Younger folks think of the Target dog. Loki loves people. It’s our hope that Loki’s work as a therapy dog can help build stronger community ties. His visits with students, seniors, first responders, and people in the community can bring people together, fostering a spirit of care and togetherness.
Since Loki can’t be everywhere at once, we decided to share his love virtually through Instagram. Need a quick pick-me-up of good vibes? You can like, share, comment, and follow Loki’s Instagram account at:
https://instagram.com/lokitherapydog
So next time you see us out and about in the community, don’t be surprised if you hear us say, “Looky, it’s Loki!”—our new therapy dog. We hope you’ll stop and say “hello.” Loki looks forward to seeing you and brightening up your day.
[Joe Domaleski, a Fayette County resident for 25+ years, is the owner of Country Fried Creative – an award-winning digital marketing agency located in Peachtree City. His company was the Fayette Chamber’s 2021 Small Business of the Year. Joe is a husband, father of three grown children, and proud Army veteran. He has an MBA from Georgia State University and enjoys sharing his perspectives drawing from thirty years of business leadership experience. Joe is a recipient of the Peachtree City Rotary Club Business Leader of the Year Award for 2024. Sign up for the Country Fried Creative newsletter to get marketing and business articles directly in your inbox. You can connect with Joe directly on LinkedIn for more insights and updates.]