Our Director
In January, 2021, Georgia Granger retired, and Sylvia Stribling became our new Director. Sylvia has always enjoyed training her own personal dogs and volunteering. However, receiving a flyer in the mail about a therapy dog program kindled her interest and created a passion to volunteer with her loving Golden Retriever to help people.
She has worked with AAT/AAA programs for over 17 years. She has volunteered and served on many different boards throughout her life, and is a retired small business owner. Sylvia knows that we all have stories to tell about how an animal has touched our lives, either in the smallest way or sometimes more profoundly. It is important to her that Caring Canines continues to bring comfort and happiness to those in our community who need it the most. Her goal is to build upon the wonderful legacy Georgia provided, working alongside our outstanding volunteers in pursuing the goals and objectives of Caring Canines.
Sylvia Stribling, Director of Caring Canines with Kate
Georgia Granger, Founder of Caring Canines with Shiloh
Our Founder
Georgia Granger, our founder, started Caring Canines, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, in July of 2017. Caring Canines is the latest chapter in her continuing mission to help people.
Georgia founded her first AAT (Animal Assisted Therapy) organization in Tennessee in 1986 She developed and built Human-Animal Bond in Tennessee (HABIT), a sprawling organization through which certified animal-assisted therapy dogs worked with professional therapists on treatment protocols that addressed challenges as varied as head trauma, elder issues and autism.
Georgia founded Human Animal Bond In Colorado (HABIC) in 1993. She grew that organization to over 150 trained and supervised human animal teams participating in over 60 separate programs touching the lives of many including students, counselors, social workers, and teachers.
Her experience providing therapy dog services to schools, extended care facilities, correctional facilities, colleges for stress relief, and other clients for their specific needs is the foundation on which Caring Canines is built.
Our Human - Animal Teams
Over the past 40 years our founder Georgia Granger has developed comprehensive thorough processes to ensure volunteers and their animals are well-trained. Caring Canine’s training and behavioral analysis program was designed through the adoption of these processes to assure consistency and safety.
All volunteers and their animals must attend a seven-week training course given by a dog trainer experienced in AAT (Animal assisted Therapy). They must pass a rigorous test given by the dog trainer and observed by the president/founder to assure the safety and efficacy of all programs. Animals (consisting only of canines) are evaluated through a series of tests performed by our veterinarian to assure their behavior will lead to success, and will be absolutely safe. All procedures, training, tests, agreements with clients, and progress reports are supported with documentation. The candidate teams that pass all of these training and behavioral tests are well equipped to help people.
This is the third AAT organization our CEO/President has founded. Her track record of directing AAT organizations has been remarkable. The procedures, training, and screening she has instituted as director of these organizations over the past 40 years have prevented any safety problems from occurring in any of her organizations.
If your dog thinks you’re the greatest person in the world, don’t seek a second opinion. – Jim Fiebig, American author
I can train any dog in five minutes. It’s training the owner that takes longer. – Barbara Woodhouse, No Bad Dogs
Animal Assisted Therapy versus Animal Assisted Activities
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a goal-directed intervention in which an animal is incorporated as an integral part of the person’s treatment process. AAT is delivered or directed by a professional health or human service provider who demonstrates skill and expertise regarding the clinical applications of human-animal interactions. AAT is designed to promote improvement in human physical, social, mental, emotional and/or cognitive functioning.
Animal Assisted Activities (AAA) are informal interactions and activities that provide opportunities for motivational, educational and/or recreational benefits to enhance a person’s quality of life. These activities are delivered by trained human-animal teams interacting with residents and/or patients in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, rehab facilities, adult day programs, and other environments. There are no specific treatment goals and a professional is not required to supervise the activities of the human-animal team.
Caring Canines
Caring Canines is dedicated to bringing the benefits of interacting with friendly, well-trained therapy dogs to people in education, healthcare, and other community settings in Northern Colorado. The unconditional bond between humans and canines can be enjoyed by people of all ages and in a variety of situations. Caring Canines helps individuals with social, emotional, cognitive, and physical needs. It is through the passion of our volunteers and canines that we improve the lives of people in need. Our teams serve a variety of people and help individuals gain self-confidence, a respect for people and animals, and a desire to live a more positive and productive life.
Caring Canines was founded to help children in public schools and incarcerated youth. Our goal is to have a positive impact on their thoughts and actions, and to help them improve their lives. Caring Canines’ teams enable “those in need” to trust, relax and express their feelings, and learn to be compassionate when working with animals, which can transfer to humans.
Dogs are such agreeable friends; they ask no questions, pass no criticisms.