Dog B.O.N.E.S.^sm is an acronym for Dogs Building Opportunities for Nurturing and Emotional Support. Established in June 2002, our primary purpose is to provide well trained, affectionate, obedient, registered and insured therapy dog teams for visitation to nursing facilities, hospitals, rehab centers, schools, libraries, and any other Massachusetts location where they may provide therapeutic contact with the elderly, the disabled, or the young.

Our mission is to bring a little fun into someone's day as they recuperate, rehabilitate or simply live life.

Membership is open to anyone who shares in the purpose of Dog B.O.N.E.S^sm and is willing to volunteer his or her time and resources. All of our services are offered free of charge to appropriate facilities. Dog B.O.N.E.S.^sm has five major components including:

• Visits: Our primary component is therapeutic contact provided by registered and insured therapy dog teams.
  
• Outreach: Using directed outreach, we are able to locate and register facilities that would like to receive visits by our therapy dog teams. We match our teams with facilities requesting visits and we support both teams and facilities by setting up initial contacts between them both and then provide ongoing assistance as needed.
  
• Workshops: Dog B.O.N.E.S.^sm offers an Introduction to Becoming a Therapy Dog Workshop several times a year. Upon completion, dogs and handlers, with good basic obedience skills and appropriate temperaments, may become registered and insured therapy dog teams.
  
• Evaluation: Dog B.O.N.E.S.^sm also offers testing/evaluation for dogs already working but not yet registered.
  
• Support: Members, either therapy dog team or facility members receive ongoing support from Dog B.O.N.E.S.^sm.

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