Pet Teams celebrate pet therapy graduation at Gulfport Memorial Hospital

This weekend there were barks and cheers as Gulfport welcomed six new pet therapy teams.

Now reporting life kristin sweeney is 25 ... thanks kristin this weekend.

There were barks and shears is go welcome six new pet ... .

There seems loosely five screws oils has more details from the ceremony- saturday the visiting pet - teams of south mississippi- honored its 20-20 class of pet- therapy graduates.

Six canines- and their handlers- received diplomas and a chew to- for successful- completion of their course- instruction and their - evaluation.

- the ceremony was held at- gulfport memorial - hospital.

All human attendees - wore masks and were - spread six feet apart.

While- covid-19 did not prevent the- graduation event from happening- it did affect the - number of graduates.- michael bowin, visiting pet - teams of south ms coordinator:- "we would've had six but we had a - couple that dropped out for - other reasons.

And this is- considered that we've been- basically four months without - any evaluations.

So this- was a very small year for us."

The pet therapy's team- evaluator, carla anderson, had- some parting- words for her pet teams as they- embark on a journey she - began 10 years ago.

- carla anderson, pet team- evaluator: "those new dog handler teams,- sometimes i remind them, you- know, don't drop your lead, pay- attention to what your- dog is doing at all times, and- you're your dog's advocate.

It'- your responsibilty to - remove your animal from the - situation if your animal become- stressed."

Grace boyles, news 25: "anderso says therapy dogs aren't made,- they're born.

A - couple of the many traits she - says should have is getting - along with children and not - backing away from physical- touch."

- - - carla anderson, pet team- evaluator: "you can train obedience and field and agility- but you can't train temperment- and personality."

The basic duties of a therapy - pet - according to the therapy- group's - motto - are to enhance lives, - reduce lonliness, and - - - - create motivation through anima- assisted- activities and animal assisted- - - - therapy.

Carla anderson, pet- team evaluator: "it's just all about the dogs.

I just joke and- say i'm - just the driver.

They do- everything.

And they do, they - do."

If you and your furry friend ar- interested in becoming a pet- therpay team, the visiting pet- teams of south mississippi hold- a - new member meeting on the secon- saturday of each month.

- for more information you can- contact the group at therapy- g-s-p ten @gmail dot com.

- in gulfport, grace boyles, news- - - -