The most accepted terms for this field are Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) and Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA). AAT involves working with someone when a specific goal has been identified. If you do this as a volunteer, you will work with a professional who will assist you in selecting goals for different individuals. AAA are those activities designed to strengthen someone's quality of life. Usually performed by volunteers, they are generally "meet and greet" activities.

 


 Meet Cancer Treatment Grant Recipient: Bullet
Bullet has been active for many years as a therapy and demonstration dog. His mom, Barbara Masi, contacted the foundation in September 2010 about obtaining a Working Dog Cancer Treatment Grant. Here is Barbara's story about his work and her special guy, Bullet:

 

Bullet is a 9 year old retired racing Greyhound. A broken leg at age three gave him the opportunity to retire early. He went on to do some modeling and then became a therapy dog to fill his spare time after retirement.

In early 2008 Bullet decided to go back to work and joined the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office as one of the Greyhounds used in the Animal Kindness Program.

Bullet appears in schools, camps, and other locations where children congregate and at community locations and events where he visits with adults and children alike.

He has been featured in Boca Dog Magazine, Around Wellington, the PBSO Star and twice appeared in Celebrating Greyhounds national magazine - among others. Bullet modeled on the runway for a number of years at the Greyhound Pets of America Luncheon and Fashion Show at the Harriet Theater in CityPlace. Bullet also has two of his photos in a book called Diva Dogs – one in his clown suit and another in his winter bomber jacket as he waits for the greyhound bus. Eat your heart out Tom Cruise!!!

Bullet appeared in the Ballet Florida production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach and was selected to appear in the G-Star Motion Pictures Production of Destiny and the Bulldozers but he did not go to the filming as they scheduled it in the heat of the summer months here in S FL. His on-stage photos as a “bowerina” can be seen at greyhoundpetsfl.org under the photo section.

Bullet represented the canine division in the local Arthritis Walk in 2009 as the Dog Honoree and he has been selected to be Grand Marshall of the annual Peggy Adams Shelter Walk for the Animals in February of 2011.


Bullet with his home working pal Comet

Bullet “volunteered” twice to help save other canines by being a blood donor a few years ago. In July 2010 he was diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer, extraskeletal soft tissue osteosarcoma. Bullet then underwent two surgeries and five chemotherapy treatments and is (hopefully) cancer free at this time.  His doctor has not even put him on maintenance drugs as he feels “we got it all” and I am praying he is right.

Bullet is receiving Get Well cards from all over the world for his recent bout with cancer. He is collecting them in order to schedule a media event to raise awareness of canine cancer. Anyone wishing to send a card may mail it to Bullet Masi – Special Events / Animal Kindness Unit – Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office - 3228 Gun Club Road – West Palm Beach, FL 33406.


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