Our Work
As the largest animal-assisted therapy organization on the East Coast of the United States, Good Dog currently operates in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey, with plans to expand. Good Dog focuses on work in the four divisions of Education, Health Care and Wellness, Research, and Disaster Response.
Education Division
The Education Division consists of three Good Dog programs. These programs focus on reading, anti-bullying and autism.
Reading
Good Dogs patiently listen as young students learn how to read, struggling readers work on their reading skills or English-as-a-second-language students work on learning a new language. Improved reading levels and increased confidence have been consistently observed in students taking part in the reading program.
Anti-Bullying
The anti-bullying program focuses on the therapy dog team entering the classroom and beginning a dialogue on kindness, responsibility and communication. The outcome of this program is that students will have increased empathy towards animals and towards each other.
Autism
Good Dog is working closely with facilities such as The Anderson Center for Autism in Staatsburg, NY by bringing therapy dogs to visit students with autism. Many of the students who have received visits have shown marked improvements in verbal skills and reductions in disruptive behaviors.
Health Care and Wellness Division
The Health Care and Wellness Division consists of eight unique programs. These programs specialize in cancer, heart disease, rehabilitation/stroke, AIDS/HIV, mental health, geriatric care, indigent populations and veterans.
Health Care and Wellness Division encompasses the work of Good Dogs in all sections of area hospitals and is the largest of the four Good Dog divisions. Reduced anxiety, loneliness, stress and blood pressure are just a few of the healing benefits of Good Dogs observed in the Health Care and Wellness Division. Good Dogs help thousands of people cope with AIDS, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, strokes, cancer and depression in medical facilities.
Research Division
The Research Division currently consists of two activities: a research study with Pfizer and Beth Israel Medical Center and a study funded by the Autism Society of America- Hudson Valley Chapter to analyze the benefits of therapy dogs for children with autism.
Good Dog was selected by the Pfizer Corporation to take part in a groundbreaking oncology study. In 2009, Good Dog entered into a working partnership with Continuum Cancer Centers of New York, Beth Israel and St. Luke’s-Roosevelt of New York, to conduct research on the clinical benefits of therapy dog service as an element in the treatment of individuals suffering from cancer.
Disaster Response Division
The Disaster Response Division consists of two programs. One program focuses on national disasters and the other focuses on local disasters in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Good Dog can deploy teams to help the survivors of disasters as well as the professionals sent to assist in disaster recovery. Good Dog teams have worked with victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina. Good Dog has a disaster response training program that it runs in several locations annually.
For more infomation
The Good Dog Foundation
PO Box 1484
New York, NY 10276
Toll-Free: (888) 859-9992
Fax: (888) 861-7312
info@thegooddogfoundation.org
About Us | In the News | Volunteer | Donate
For Good Dog Teams | Contact | 
