Irish Therapy Dogs’ Bi-annual Conference 2015 was held on Saturday February 28th in Bewley’s Hotel Leopardstown, Dublin. Over one hundred and twenty Volunteers and guests from across the country were in attendance. The keynote address – ‘Updated Research on the Benefits of Pet Assisted Therapy’ – was presented by our Patrons, Dr. Sandra Barker, Center Director of The Center of Human-Animal Interaction, and Dr. Randolph Barker, Center Executive Committee Member. Guest speaker Catherine Dunleavy, Director of Nursing, Tara Winthrop Clinic spoke about the Benefits of ‘Pet Therapy in a Caring Environmen’ while Noel Sheehan, Inspector Manager, Regulation Directorate Health Information and Quality Authority presented on ‘Ensuring Safer, Better Health and Social Care’. Michael Woods, Veterinary Surgeon, MVB Cert V Ophthalmic MRCVS, gave a presentation on ‘Dogs versus Humans and Illness Transmission’. Theses presentations covered a range of interesting and informative topics which were well received by all present.
Patrons Proinnsías Ó Duinn and Maureen Hennis unfortunately were unable to attend but sent messages of support.
A sincere thank you to all of our guests and volunteers present.
