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 20 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.
Testimonials
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Working with Caring Canines has been such a positive, supportive, valuable experience for the students I work with. My students struggle with severe and impairing mental health issues, extensive histories of trauma, and troublesome behavioral difficulties. Through experiential work with your team, these students have found a safe place at school and a unique environment to work on their social and emotional goals. My students look forward to working with Caring Canines every week and tell me that it on those days, after having that time with the dog, they feel happier and like life is more doable.Working with Caring Canines has been such a positive, supportive, valuable experience for the students I work with. My students struggle with severe and impairing mental health issues, extensive histories of trauma, and troublesome behavioral difficulties. Through experiential work with your team, these students have found a safe place at school and a unique environment to work on their social and emotional goals. My students look forward to working with Caring Canines every week and tell me that it on those days, after having that time with the dog, they feel happier and like life is more doable.
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High School Social Worker
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These are the comments from our clients: Tammy, Cody is nice, Annette said she likes when Cody or Kate come to visit. Wes said he likes when Cody or Kate comes to the center. John Caleb likes to pet Kate and Cody. Lindsey said she likes to give Kate and Cody treats. Trenton and Dustin say they like to pet Cody and Kate and give them treats. Jean says when she pets Kate and Cody, she feels different. She says she wants a dog like them. Nina says Kate and Cody make her feel relaxed when she is stressed and make her happy when she sees them. Rachel and Baylee say the dogs help with anxiety and are stress relievers. Everyone loves Caring Canines!
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Office Manager, Adult Day Program
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I just wanted to thank the Caring Canines teams for volunteering at camp this year. The kids loved the dogs – it seemed like this year more than ever. (We have the kids fill out sheets that tell us their favorite things about camp, and more than one wrote “dogs.”). I was especially happy to see some of our more difficult kids this summer really making a connection with the dogs. I think that relationship helped them with their human relationships during the week. We very much value our partnership and look forward to it continuing to future camps and events!
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Camp Director
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Though all of the teams were wonderful and easy to work with, I would like to highlight your Wednesday team in particular. This team faced some challenges with their students that turned into learning experiences because of your volunteer’s experience working with children and young adults. She has the training and understanding needed to effectively handle some of the situations the students are facing. She immediately started a rapport with each student, which continued and grew stronger with each visit. The students were comfortable enough with her to share some things about their lives that they were struggling with. Copper was also a calming presence for these students. He is so well trained and intuitive. There was not one command that he didn’t follow. I know that there are many opportunities for dog/trainer teams available. I would highly recommend this team for anything involving youth, especially those that are troubled or struggling. This team has the ability to make a difference. You are so lucky to have them!!! Thanks so much.
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SEL Specialist
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Working with Caring Canines has been such a positive, supportive, valuable experience for the students I work with. My students struggle with severe and impairing mental health issues, extensive histories of trauma, and troublesome behavioral difficulties. Through experiential work with the Caring Canines’ team, these students have found a safe place at school and a unique environment to work on their social and emotional goals. My students look forward to working with Caring Canines every week and tell me that on those days, after having that time with the dog, they feel happier and like life is more doable.
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School Social Worker
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At our Youth Services Center for incarcerated teens, we have several teams of Caring Canines come into our facility. This is an absolute highlight for the youth who are working with the canine team, however not only is that one youth impacted for that day, but seeing a smiling dog and handler makes each youth and staff’s day a bit brighter. The youth working with these canine teams are often working on social skills and emotional regulation and we have seen them grow in these areas through their interactions with the dog and handler teams. I am so thankful we have access to this amazing and kind resource.
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Clinical Director
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Caring Canines teams have come to our school with their dogs for several years and have worked with us in providing very positive experiences for our students. The teams are great to work with, are very understanding and supportive of our students, and provide wonderful learning opportunities and enjoyment for our students. We have seen many positive benefits for our students in social, emotional, behavioral, and learning areas from interactions with Caring Canines teams.
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School Psychologist
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We love working with Caring Canines at our school site! The Caring Canines’ team that volunteers at our school is an incredible duo and they provide our students with a fun, caring, and safe environment to process and heal. Our staff members have wonderful things to say about the progress that is made in and out of the classroom for our students who see this Caring Canines’ team! We have seen positive impact with some of our highest need students at our school regarding regulation, skill building, self-esteem, etc. Every school needs a Caring Canines’ team like this one.
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School Counselor
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When I’m broken into pieces, Oscar helps put me back together.
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Student
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Your volunteer and her dog are a powerhouse duo! She brings her compassion to every session. She accepts the students right where they are at, and she offers kindness and understanding to them. She often builds as close of a connection with the student as her dog does and that’s saying a lot. Her dog is the expert at building relationships. Your volunteer truly knows what it means to provide support to children. Her experience has added to our collaboration when setting goals for students and evaluating progress. She is the ultimate professional and her ethics are uncompromising.
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Mental Health Specialist
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We appreciate you and your teams more than you know. Your volunteer and her dog are amazing and the student and classroom community always feel the love when they are here!!!