Erin Verdon is an occupational therapist at St. Luke’s Physical Therapy Center in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. How she worked with her patients changed in October 2021 after attending Team Training at the Northeast Region Training Center and being matched with facility dog Franklin. Erin says, “We work together as a team. We motivate as well as support patients by engaging them in therapy whether its physical, cognitive, or upper body coordination tasks.” Franklin loves to work, as well as learn new commands to continue to support patients in their sessions.

Franklin is very affectionate and emotional toward the people he and Erin work with. Some patients may not always give therapy their all, but with Franklin, patients find themselves stretching farther and jumping higher to do their best for him. He is unconditionally supportive and the bridge some people need to fully engage in their therapy sessions.

DogFest Tri-States 2022 Supporting Canine Companions

DogFest Tri-States 2022

DogFest Tri-States 2022 Supporting Canine Companions