Homeless families in Vancouver get visit from therapy pups

WEST VANCOUVER — Volunteers from the DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital pet therapy team — called Portland Area Canine Therapy Teams — visited Share Homestead, 4921 N.E. Hazel Dell Ave., on Christmas Eve to “raise the spirits of children and families in need with the joy of animal-assisted therapy,” according to a news release. The team also spends time with staff who work emotionally taxing jobs. “Our therapy dogs can make a difference at this time of year,” Kathy Loter, DoveLewis’ Portland Area Canine Therapy Teams program manager, said in a news release. “When they visit a hospital, for instance, they have a special way of connecting with patients who are struggling with the anxiety and sadness of dealing with an illness and being away from home.” Share Homestead is a 13-room shelter including 11 rooms for homeless families. Portland-based DoveLewis is a nonprofit 24-hour emergency and intensive care unit for animals.