Request Our Services

Research has shown therapy dogs can reduce stress, anxiety and depression and provide a sense of connection in difficult situations. The human-animal bond is a strong relationship that positively influences the health and well-being of both. A visit from a certified Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dog team can offer tremendous benefits to adults and children of all ages in a wide variety of settings. These benefits include:

  • Lowering stress and blood pressure
  • Sharing happiness and laughter
  • Providing a distraction from worries, pain and problems
  • Easing communication with others
  • Reawakening fond memories of their pets
  • Fostering reading abilities in children

What Happens on a Therapy Dog Visit?

Therapy dog visits may vary, depending on the reason for the visit, the nature of the facility, and the type of person being visited. Our teams work in a wide variety of situations:

Our dogs visit children in pediatric wards in hospitals. Most of the children have never been away from home before. They are frightened and fearful at the prospect of having to spend time in a big hospital. Sometimes the children are severely handicapped. When they receive a visit from a therapy dog team, the dogs seem to spark a positive reaction no one has ever seen before. We go to schools to work with children, often those with developmental needs. Many of them demonstrate anxiety and behavioral issues but are calmed by petting a friendly and engaging therapy dog.

We visit lonely seniors in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The dogs and handlers provide a welcome change in routine and often form lasting friendships with the residents. The dogs bring back pleasant and warm memories of family pets from days gone by. When we visit rehabilitation facilities and hospitals, the patients can ease the boredom of institutional life or the pain of a recent surgery by visits from a friendly face with a wagging tail. Sometimes a patient with depression who hasn’t spoken for a while will have a conversation with a dog. Difficult patients sometimes become more compliant when a furry face shows them affection and convinces them to follow doctor’s orders.

Many of our teams enjoy working with children in libraries or in after-school reading programs. The stress of learning to read can be made easier for some children when they read aloud to a friendly, non-threatening dog. The dog “listens” attentively and is non-judgmental. We also help high school and college students lessen their test taking anxieties during exam week when they spend a few minutes petting a visiting dog.

Finally, some of our dogs provide “grief and disaster relief”. In this capacity, our teams have worked in schools and funeral homes to provide comfort during difficult times. Our handlers and dogs come in all ages, shapes and sizes – they are truly bright and beautiful.

How Can i Request a Visit

Bright & Beautiful teams can provide ongoing visits or one-time visits to many different types of
facilities including:

  • Medical and Physical wellness – hospitals, rehabilitation centers, long term care
  • Education – elementary, middle and high schools, colleges and universities, libraries, scouting and 4H clubs
  • Senior Adults – nursing homes, assisted living facilities, senior centers
  • Mental Wellness – company health and wellness events, group houses, funeral homes

We also pay visits to private homes, at the request of a family member.

And there is absolutely no cost to any facility or family! All our members are volunteers and
love doing this kind of work!

  • If your facility, organization or family member is located in New Jersey and would like to request a visit, click here to complete a request form.
  • If your facility, organization or family member is located outside of New Jersey and
    would like to request a visit, please obtain assistance from one of our Evaluators who is
    based in your area.
Note: All therapy dog visits must be “sponsored” Bright & Beautiful visits. A sponsored visit is one that follows the B&B guidelines – both in terms of the facility or private home and the B&B member. The facility or private home requesting the visit must provide the appropriate supervision and support for the B&B team, and the B&B member is required to adhere to our processes and procedures for the visit.

The Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Inc.

Info

The Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Inc. is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) all volunteer organization. We do not accept monetary compensation for our visitation. Testing fees and membership fees are donations and are tax deductible.

Contact Us

80 Powder Mill Road, Morris Plains, NJ 07950
Phone: (973)292-3316
Toll-Free (888) 738-5770
Fax: (973)292-9559
info@golden-dogs.org