Interim Inc. and its Grateful Residents Believe in the Healing Power of Canine Therapy

1. Interim Inc. and its Grateful Residents Believe in the Healing Power of CanineTherapy There are four special unpaid employees at Interim Inc. that are known for their calm, gentle manner and ability to provide emotional therapeutic support that aids in the healing process for Interim’sresidents. Monterey, CA, April 05, 2018 — There are four special unpaid employees at Interim Inc. that are knownfortheircalm,gentle mannerandabilitytoprovideemotionaltherapeuticsupportthataidsin the healing process for Interim’sresidents. They are four therapy dogs that work directly in programs at Interim, a Monterey-based private nonprofitorganizationthatprovides supportservices, housing andtreatmentforadultswithmental illness in MontereyCounty. Allfouraretrainedtoprovideemotionaltherapeuticsupportandassistinginthehealingprocess.These four-legged companions help decrease feelings of anxiety, increase feelings of comfort and safety, and reduce loneliness inresidents. Here’sthestoryofthreeofthecanines, Angel,Rufus andJuno: Angel About twice a month, and sometimes more, Manzanita House has a visiting “Angel.” ManzanitaHouse is Interim’s crisis residential program, where residents are recovering from a mental health crisis. The emotionalsupportthatatherapydogcanprovidetoclientsatthisjunctureismuchneeded. Sometimes you will find Angel hanging out in the Living Room, sometimes in the Dining Room or Day Room.Shehas been knowntocalmlysitnexttoresidentsonthecouchorenthusiasticallygreetthem with a big kiss. She is always accompanied by her chauffer, friend and personal human, GraceRider.

2. Angel is a registered therapy dog. Her black and tan sausage shape wiggles with happiness as she greets you. “IwastoldDachshundscouldbe hardtotrain,butAngelwasn’tthatway,”saysRider. “TheInternational Therapy Dog trainer in Salinas says Angel’s got the perfect therapy dog personality. She’s very vocal for a dachshund and will greet with you with a gurgle. She loves everyone she meets.” Angel has been visiting Manzanita House regularly for about four years. Rider says Angel seems to understandtheresidents—whethertheyneed aquiet caninefriendtositnexttothemforawhile,orif someone needs full-on doggy kisses. As the residents interact with Angel, sometimes they share their journeywithRider.Theybothlistenwithoutjudgment. When she is not at Manzanita House, Angel visits the Hospice at CHOMP and other rehabilitation centersinthearea,spreading doggyjoywitheveryvisit. Rufus Manzanita House has another regular visitor who comes to play with residents. Rufus is a Black Lab and hisownerCarlastoppedinattheInterimofficesrecentlytomeettheadministrativestaff. “Rufus came from the Monterey County SPCA. He was part of a program called ‘Take the Lead’where youngpeoplewhoarepartofthejuvenileprobationprogramworkwithdogsinthesheltertotrain them,” says Carla, Rufus’ human. Rufus was taught basic commands, how to walk on a leash andbasic obedience. (Unfortunately, this program has beendiscontinued.) “We got Rufus when he was 4 months old — he’s 9 years old now — and had him evaluated andtrained attheZoomRoom(nowCaliforniaCanineTraining) inPacificGrove,withtheideathathecouldbe a therapydog,” saidCarla. “Partofthetrainingwasforme,onhowtohandlehim.Rufuspassedwith flyingcolorsandwentontoreceive specialized therapytrainingfrom TherapyDogsInternational.” Rufus especially likes to play ball with the residents in the back yard at Manzanita House.Sometimes he can be found rolling on the floor in the living room, nuzzling a resident. He loves to play and loves meeting newpeople. “Whenwestopintovisit,thestaffatManzanitamakesanannouncementovertheintercomthatRufus is here,andtheresidents,andsometimesstaff,comeouttoseehim,”Carlasaid. When not “working,” Rufus lives at home with his humans, Carla and Tony and “sister”Cammie, a white lab who is a hospital therapydog. Juno

3. The homelike setting of Interim’s Bridge House program in Monterey provides a structured, non- institutional therapeutic community where residents with co-occurring substance use disorders and psychiatric disabilities learn to rebuild theirlives. At Bridge House, Juno, a St. Bernard, works the night shift as a therapy dog. Juno’s human is Leah Mahar,whoincidentallyalsoworksthenightshiftatBridgeHouse.Leahhasbeenonstaffforeight years, six of which she has been accompanied byJuno. “I had been working here a couple of years, and knew about therapy dogs and how they could help peoplewithstress,” said Mahar.“Istartedlookingfora dogthatwouldmake a goodtherapydog,and saw Juno advertised on Craigslist. I called her owner who had Juno and her mother — they had originally thought to breed Juno. I told the owner that I was looking for a dog to be a therapy dog, and she said shethoughtJuno’stemperament wasperfectforthatkindofjob.” Juno’strainingbegan withregularcanineobedience classes.Buttobecomeatherapy dog,she hadtobe able to pass additional tests, such as not jumping on people, not reacting to other dogs, and not eating food dropped on the ground. She had to remain calm in situations where other people and animals around her might be agitated. Juno passed withflying colors! Forresidentsof BridgeHousewho are learningto copewithmentalillnesswhilealsodealingwith substance use disorders, Juno’s gentle acceptance can be as healing asmedication. AtypicalshiftforJuno andLeahbeginsabout10:45 p.m., and someresidentswillwaituptovisitwith Juno before they go tobed. “Sometimesit’shardforourresidentstosettleintotheirnewroutine,” saidMahar.“They areaway fromhomeand maybe missing theirfamiliesand pets.Junoisjustthereforthem,unconditionally.” Often, a few minutes petting and talking to Juno helps residents relax before bed. Since Juno and Leah’s shift continues until 8 a.m., residents often visit with Juno when they first get up in the morning. She providesacomfortingpresencethatsettlesthematthestartoftheirday. Interimbelieves inthehealingpowerofourfour-leggedfriends,andtheresultsare evident by themany smiles at Manzanita House and BridgeHouse. InterimInc. P.O. Box 3222 Monterey, CA93942 (831)649-4522 www.interiminc.org

4. About InterimInc. Interim,Inc. isaprivatenonprofitorganizationthatprovidesauniquecombinationofsupport services, housing and treatment for adults with mental illness in Monterey County. Services provided include affordable supportive housing, residential treatment, mental health and dual-recovery services, case coordination, therapeutic services, outreach and intensive support for homeless adults, supported education and employment, day treatment and peersupport. Contact: Marci BraccoCain Chatterbox PR Salinas, CA93901 (831)747-7455 http://www.interiminc.org