Welcome to Cold Noses, Warm Hearts
Cora
Welcome to Cold Noses, Warm Hearts
Cold Noses, Warm Hearts, Inc. is a non-profit, all volunteer organization, dedicated to sharing well trained registered therapy animals and Reading Education Assistance Dogs, (R.E.A.D.) in meaningful programs that provide comfort and caring through the human-animal bond.
Our services are offered in a wide variety of settings including but not limited to hospitals, extended care facilities, universities, children’s centers and other facilities where therapy animals are needed along with R.E.A.D. programs in schools and libraries We strive to make a positive difference in all the lives we touch.
Interested in seeing a therapy or R.E.A.D team in action? Check our calendar to see where our members/teams will be.
Have a photo(s) you’d like to share with us? Please upload them and send along via our online contact form or email to: photos@coldnosesnwarmhearts.org
Calendar
Events
Gimme Shelter’s Gathering of the Paws
Saturday, July 1, 2023
10:00 AM
Twelve Percent Brewery/Coffee Bar in North Haven
Benefit for Hamden’s Animal Shelter
Visits
Booth & Dimock Memorial Library
Second Saturday of the Month
April 8 through June 10, 2023
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Lucy Robbins Welles Library
Third Saturday of the Month
April 15 through June 17, 2023
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
George Hersey Robertson School
Every Wednesday through June 28, 2023
8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Montessori School of Greater Hartford
Every Friday through June 30, 2023
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Keeney Elementary School
Every Wednesday through June 30, 2023
Raymond Hill School
Every Wednesday or Thursday through June 30, 2023
Bugs Bunny
Becoming a Therapy Team
Becoming a therapy animal team is a rewarding volunteer activity for everyone involved. Therapy animals serve in a variety of roles. Some of them visit people in hospitals and long term care facilities, others participate in reading programs at schools, some teams work with physical therapists, occupational therapists, and others to include the dog in their treatment plan. There are several different ways to become a team with your animal, and many different organizations. There are basic guidelines and procedures to follow regardless of what path you take to become a therapy animal team.
Instructions
- First, evaluate whether or not your pet will enjoy therapy work. A worried animal who fears noises and unknown people will not be well suited to going to schools or hospitals to be petted by new people. Usually a calm disposition and solid on leash obedience will help you and your animal to meet the handling requirements.
- Once it is determined that therapy work will be fulfilling to you and your pet, you will need to get some solid obedience training. A good guideline for the level of obedience that will be required is the Canine Good Citizen Test offered by the AKC.
- Find a therapy animal organization that suits you and your pet. Some of the recognized national organizations are; InterMountain Therapy Animals, Therapy Dogs Incorporated, Delta Society and Bright and Beautiful.
- Find out what the testing requirements are with your selected group. Cold Noses, Warm Hearts has evaluators qualified to test for Delta Society and Intermountain Therapy Animals.
Spend some time educating yourself of appropriate etiquette for medical settings, interacting with people who have disabilities, and child safety during therapy visits. Many organizations offer classes on these subjects and some require them before you will be allowed to visit.
If we can help answer any questions please contact us via the contact form below.
Join Us
Terrie & Millie
Join Us
New members are always welcome!
Already have a therapy animal?
As a member of Cold Noses, Warm Hearts you will be part of a supportive, like-minded group of folks who love their animals, enjoy being with others who like to make a difference as a therapy team. We actively participate in health fairs, R.E.A.D. programs, fund raising events, community presentations to educate on therapy and R.E.A.D. teams and evaluations for new therapy animal teams.
Currently without a therapy animal? We welcome your help sharing who we are, recruiting new members and helping with fundraisers.
As a member of Cold Noses, Warm Hearts you will be part of a supportive, like-minded group of folks who love their animals, enjoy being with others who like to make a difference as a therapy team.
Becoming a R.E.A.D. Team
Please follow the instructions below on becoming a R.E.A.D. team:
Instructions
- You must be a registered therapy dog team to become a R.E.A.D. team. Register with an animal assisted therapy group. This will give you insurance during a visit, and some of the training you need to become a R.E.A.D. team.
- Visit the events calendar on this website to find out when and where the next R.E.A.D. training will be held.
- The R.E.A.D. workshop is for the human part of the team only This is mandatory to become registered.
- Once you complete the necessary training and receive your R.E.A.D. certificate you will need to register with ITA
- Once your paperwork is received, it is reviewed and if everything is there, ITA will send you your membership card, R.E.A.D. dog tag, and letter saying you are registered with the R.E.A.D. program. It usually takes 1 to 2 weeks for you to receive this packet.
Photo Gallery
Links
Intermountain Therapy Animals
Intermountain Therapy Animals (ITA) alone has over 300 therapy teams who visit over 100 facilities spending time with individuals who are in need and going through some of the most difficult experiences of their lives.
Tails-U-Win!
Donate
Mary Beth & Mo
Donate
Please consider donating to CNWH. Your contributions assist with the purchasing of books for R.E.A.D., website expenses, mailings and other general expenses.
Please make checks payable to “CNWH” and mail to:
CNWH
925 Swamp Road
Coventry, CT 06238
Contact Us
Please use the form below to contact us. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
Brody & Dawson