Can a rescue dog become a therapy dog? The answer is yes, but that does not mean every rescue dog should.
In this episode of Rescue Tales, hosts Dr. Robert Forto and Robin Lucas of Rebel Rescue South Korea explore what it really takes for a rescue dog to succeed in therapy work. They discuss temperament, handling tolerance, recovery from startling situations, social behavior, training, and the responsibility of both rescues and adopters to put the individual dog’s needs first.
Robert and Robin also discuss the danger of overselling a rescue dog’s story or abilities simply because people want an inspirational ending. A dog does not need to become a therapy dog, ambassador, or working dog to make its rescue story worthwhile. For dogs that do show the right temperament, careful evaluation and training can help determine whether public therapy work is a good fit.
The episode closes with the story of Cinderella, an 11-month-old Jindo mix who returned to Rebel Rescue after being abandoned by her adoptive family, along with a call for volunteers to consider helping rescues during harder-to-fill weekday and evening shifts.
