MORE THAN JUST
MAN’S BEST FRIEND

THEY ARE THERAPY DOGS

TOP DOGS
SPREAD SMILES
FOR MILES!

our motto

YOU CAN MAKE
A DIFFERENCE

Volunteer

HOW CAN I HELP?

              

Knitters & Crocheters

Wanted!

I Rescued A

Human

Today!

We are

Changing

Lives!

Watch our

Court Prep

video!

Touch Our Pets Therapy Dogs

aka TOP Dogs

Prides itself on its professionalism and high ethical standards.
TOP Dogs complies to all the requirements of a Nonprofit Organisation.

NON PROFIT

We do this because we really care and want to make a difference by changing peoples lives. TOP Dogs is a Nonprofit Voluntary Organization 074-086 and we are registered as a Public Benefit Organisation PBO No.: 930034908

how we started

Touch Our Pets – Therapy Dogs – known as TOP Dogs – was started by eight dedicated Therapy Dog handlers, and their pets, in August 2008. Our motto is “spread smiles for miles” – this is being achieved, on a regular basis, with visits from our friendly non-threatening dogs, to many venues.

achievements

By participating in the Court preparations, TOP Dogs was instrumental in helping the Teddy Bear Foundation win the 2019 Impumelelo award.

WORLD FIRST

Court Preparation Programme TOP Dogs was the first therapy dog organisation in the world to dress our therapy dogs in court attire

Donate

It`s TAX deductible

If you are a SA donor and require a 18A certificate please send proof
of your donation to info@therapytopdogs.co.za

Activities

There are 3 main programmes TOP Dogs are involved with:

01

ANIMAL ASSISTED ACTIVITIES (AAA)

Guide dogs, also known as “Seeing Eye” dogs, are assistance dogs trained to lead blind and visually impaired people around obstacles. Therapy dogs offer a different class of help. They pay informal visits, referred to as Animal Assisted Activity (AAA) visits, to various facilities such as hospitals, frail care centres, children`s homes, homeless shelters, hospices and many more.
Scientific research has shown that a person stroking, talking to and making eye contact with an animal, will experience a lowering of blood pressure, relief from stress and an easing of loneliness and depression, by increasing all the “feel good” hormones.

02

ANIMAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES (AEP)

Not only do therapy dogs assist adults, but also children. Our AEP programmes include reading schemes at various schools. The AEP visit helps to improve the learners’ reading and concentration skills. The children read to the dogs in a calming, non-judgemental environment. During the “fun time” of the programme, the children learn safe interaction with dogs. Our Animal Educational Programmes (AEP) teach children how to take care of dogs holistically as well as “bite avoidance”. It is rewarding to see children, who were previously afraid of dogs, smile confidently while interacting with them at the end of the programme.

03

ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY (AAT)

Some therapy dogs (with their handlers) work one-on-one alongside a professional, such as a physiotherapist or a social worker in a structured rehabilitation, counselling or learning programme. These visits are referred to as Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) visits. Together, as a professional team, they help patients reach clinical goals, such as increased mobility or improved memory.

TOP Dogs

Pays Tribute to…

All dogs who rescue humans, or visited them as Therapy Dogs.

How can I become a
TOP Dogs handler?

Step 1

Own a well behaved, people and animal friendly dog

Step 2

Fill out the form to join the TOP Dogs team!
.

Step 3

Attend three visits as an observer
.
.

Step 1

Book a place on the next TOP Dogs evaluation
.

After the Evaluation

What’s next?

Contact Us

We’d love to hear from you!

Send us an email, follow us on social media or fill out the form below
and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!

General Enquiries

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Personal Information Your personal information is stored on a secure server and is used only for communication purposes. We retain your email address to answer your inquiry, and to follow up on previous communication. 

If you choose not to receive any further communication from TOP Dogs, please contact us and request to be removed from our contact list. Your personal information will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Area Coordinators

Johannesburg: Wendy Carter

Pretoria: Alta Rossouw

East Rand: Andreas Lemmerer

West Rand: Heléne Du Plessis 

Eastern Cape: Jill Thompson

Western Cape: Sarah Bourhill

Thank You

to our kind Sponsors and Supporters