For 10 years, K-9 Angels has been visiting schools, hospitals, and assisted living/nursing home facilities to give unconditional love and support to all ages and demographics. The impactful ministry was established in 2012 by retired educator Ginny Spurlock and Tanya Kingsley, an experienced dog trainer.
Since then, K-9 Angels has grown from three teams (each made up of a dog and handler) to more than 48 teams throughout Georgia’s Lake Country. This very special group of pups is affiliated with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD), and the prospective “Angels” go through a six-week obedience class, complete a test, and have three on-site observations done by a certified tester/ observer before traveling to participate in various therapy sessions.
For example, studies show therapy dogs can greatly reduce stress in college students during final exams, so the angels make a regular trek to UGA during finals week for visits with potentially anxious students.
“The look on the faces of these students when we visit and our dogs shower them with love is so heartwarming,” Spurlock said. “I believe that God sends his angels to take care of us, and our K-9 group is made up of true angels—they just have four feet.”
Ann Maddox and her dog Shadow have been a part of the K-9 Angels since its inception and recalls a time they met a woman who did not speak. However, upon meeting Shadow, the woman began sharing stories of pets of her own from years earlier.
“I am so grateful that I have been able to take my love for dogs and share that love with others,” Maddox said.
Twice a month, K-9 Angels visits The Glen at Lake Oconee Village and The Harbor at Harmony Crossing assisted-living facilities, plus a recent visit took them to Navicent Hospital in Milledgeville, where they interacted with staff and patients. Medical personnel have endured so much stress during COVID, and the CEO of the hospital requested regular visits from K-9 Angels.
There always remains a need for more therapy dogs and handlers, with the process and requirements to get involved quite simple. Dogs must be capable of being calm, friendly, and good with other dogs. If a person does a lot of work with their dog and exercises them regularly, both should be good candidates for the K-9 therapy dog program.
Anyone interested in doing therapy work with their dog should visit the ATD website at therapydogs. com. For more information on the K-9 Angels, specifically, contact Spurlock at lakepepl@att. net or follow K-9 Angels on Facebook.
“My God-given dream was to be out in the community spreading love through our dogs,” Spurlock said. “Jesus tells us to ‘be his hands and feet,’ and our K-9 Angels are definitely doing the Lord’s work, one paw at a time.”
– Contributed