Puppy Love: Therapy Dog Tuesdays

Every other Tuesday, Pitt-Greensburg welcomes Top Dog Therapy into the Fireside Lounge from 5-6 p.m. to provide stress relief for students. I had the chance to meet some of the dogs and speak with their owners to find out more about the dogs and the owners.

Nala, golden retriever                                            Cooper (left), golden retriever & Nala (right)

Nick and Brooke Weathers have had Nala, a golden retriever, since she was a puppy. Nala’s birthday is coming up, and she will turn 4 on Feb. 1. Nala is a therapy dog who loves to fetch tennis balls, but refuses to give the ball back. 

The Weathers also have Cooper, a golden retriever who is 3 years old. Nala and Cooper are great at posing for pictures, as seen in their Valentine’s Day photo.

Nick Weathers said, “My favorite part of owning dogs is that they are always happy to see you, no matter what.”

Golden retrievers are known for their loving and gentle nature. Brooke Weathers explained that she values the loyalty and companionship that her dogs provide.   

Sage, husky chow chow                                         Millie, pit bull coonhound

Sage is a husky chow chow mix who is almost 8. Her owner, Kori Reppert, has owned Sage for almost three years. Sage is a therapy dog who loves to play tug with her sister, Millie. Millie is a pitbull coonhound who will turn two in February. 

Reppert said, “Sage loves going on adventures, but also loves relaxing on the couch.”

Reppert explained that her dogs keep her on her toes. Sage escaped from her foster home on the highway and was hit by a car on her way from Kentucky to Pennsylvania. Luckily, Sage only sustained a dislocated hip from the accident. 

Millie competes in bunny-dash competitions. Bunny dash is a sporting event where the dog chases a decoy. At her last competition, she placed first in one dash and second in two dashes.

Mabel, basset hound                         Hank, basset hound                 Norman, basset hound mix

Sara and Derek Grimes own Mabel, Hank, and Norman, who are all therapy dogs. Hank is a 4-year-old, full-bred basset hound and was the first in the trio. Mabel is a full-bred basset hound, and she will turn 3 in April. She was rescued from Barnesville, Ohio, when she was around 6 months old. Norman is a nearly 2-year-old basset hound mix who came from a rescue in New Jersey.

Their dogs love to play. They enjoy the puppy park, but have tons of toys at home. Grimes explained that they have had a Bark Box subscription for three and a half years.

”They probably have 300 toys,” Grimes said.

Hank’s favorite toy is a dumpling, Norm’s favorite toy is a Lambchop toy, and Mabel’s favorite toy is her baby bottle. 

Mabel participates in Fast CAT (Fast Coursing Ability Test) races and recently placed ninth in the nation, reaching a top speed of over 16 miles per hour.