Good News Gathering members start ‘Canines for Christ’ ministry
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
A group of Good News Gathering members and their dogs has established a “Canines for Christ” ministry in Highland County, with initial outreach in local assisted-living facilities such as Heartland of Hillsboro, The Laurels, Crestwood Care Center and Bell Gardens Place.
Canines for Christ is a Christian-based, animal-assisted therapy ministry that uses church volunteers and their dogs to share God's message of love, hope, kindness and compassion.
The local Canines for Christ outreach is associated with Good News Gathering in Hillsboro.
According to volunteer Doug Wagoner of Hillsboro, the local ministry started by chance one day several months ago when he stopped by Heartland of Hillsboro to visit his longtime friend, Doyle Thomas.
“I was going to see Doyle, and I had our black Labrador, Gracie, in the car and I didn’t know how long I would be, so I brought her in with me,” Wagoner said.
“Everyone loved seeing her, and it led to many fond memories and stories about their dogs. Someone suggested that we should come back.”
Later, Wagoner said he talked about the experience at Good News Gathering with Pastor Jeff Lyle and others.
Soon, a group of volunteers and their pets began making visits to local assisted-living facilities.
But first, the dogs had to pass their training exercises.
Connie Crumley, an American Kennel Club certified trainer from Milford, conducted the canine training, which included a 10-step series of exercises and commands that the “Canines for Christ” had to master.
“They all have the American Kennel Club's designation of ‘Canine Good Citizen,’ which they earned by going through six weeks of training and then passing a test,” Wagoner said.
In addition to Doug and Susie Wagoner’s dogs, Gracie and Beanie, other volunteers included:
• Myra Harrison, and Sera;
• Kim Wisman, and Boomer;
• Paul and Teresa Pence, and Lilly; and,
• Sam and Daun Snyder, and Lucky.
Typically, the volunteers and their pets visit nursing homes, cancer centers, hospitals, hospice facilities and special needs centers.
The stated mission is to help “Christ's love shine through us and our canines as His disciples when we visit people who need love, hope and compassion.”
Currently, the program visits one selected location every Thursday evening.
Wagoner said the local Canines for Christ volunteers are willing to expand and visit schools, civic organizations and people who are confined indoors with few friends or relatives to visit.
For more on the local program, contact Doug Wagoner at 393-2355.
Canines for Christ is a Christian-based, animal-assisted therapy ministry that uses church volunteers and their dogs to share God's message of love, hope, kindness and compassion.
The local Canines for Christ outreach is associated with Good News Gathering in Hillsboro.
According to volunteer Doug Wagoner of Hillsboro, the local ministry started by chance one day several months ago when he stopped by Heartland of Hillsboro to visit his longtime friend, Doyle Thomas.
“I was going to see Doyle, and I had our black Labrador, Gracie, in the car and I didn’t know how long I would be, so I brought her in with me,” Wagoner said.
“Everyone loved seeing her, and it led to many fond memories and stories about their dogs. Someone suggested that we should come back.”
Later, Wagoner said he talked about the experience at Good News Gathering with Pastor Jeff Lyle and others.
Soon, a group of volunteers and their pets began making visits to local assisted-living facilities.
But first, the dogs had to pass their training exercises.
Connie Crumley, an American Kennel Club certified trainer from Milford, conducted the canine training, which included a 10-step series of exercises and commands that the “Canines for Christ” had to master.
“They all have the American Kennel Club's designation of ‘Canine Good Citizen,’ which they earned by going through six weeks of training and then passing a test,” Wagoner said.
In addition to Doug and Susie Wagoner’s dogs, Gracie and Beanie, other volunteers included:
• Myra Harrison, and Sera;
• Kim Wisman, and Boomer;
• Paul and Teresa Pence, and Lilly; and,
• Sam and Daun Snyder, and Lucky.
Typically, the volunteers and their pets visit nursing homes, cancer centers, hospitals, hospice facilities and special needs centers.
The stated mission is to help “Christ's love shine through us and our canines as His disciples when we visit people who need love, hope and compassion.”
Currently, the program visits one selected location every Thursday evening.
Wagoner said the local Canines for Christ volunteers are willing to expand and visit schools, civic organizations and people who are confined indoors with few friends or relatives to visit.
For more on the local program, contact Doug Wagoner at 393-2355.