which is common in dogs that are predisposed to that,” Donna said.“ But she was able to learn the house and the steps and yard. She runs outside and around the yard. She no longer needs the bumper harness. When I take her with me to work, she’ s so comfortable and is not stressed about being in a different environment.”
Donna learned about the Warm Hearts Network through a speech and language pathologist colleague at work who also has two therapy dogs through Warm Hearts, a not-for-profit organization that started after three women who worked at the Los Lunas Training School, a residential facility for adults with developmental disabilities, began bringing their well-mannered dogs to work with the residents. In 1990, these women registered as teams with their dogs through the Pet Partners program and began to recruit additional members. The greater Albuquerque / Los Lunas / Belen chapter was called the Warm Hearts Network, and it became its own legal organization in 2013. WHN has a working volunteer board of directors with experience in business, healthcare, disability, dog training and handling, animal assisted activities, animal assisted therapy, assistance dogs and more.
“ I always knew Izze would make a great therapy dog, I just never knew how to go forward with it,” Donna said.“ An appointment for an assessment was scheduled, and it was just a neat experience. It was a wonderful, kind group of dog-loving people.”
Izze was asked to perform a variety of commands, such as sit, stay, and walk on a leash. She also had to walk past a bowl of cheese and obey the‘ leave it’ command. Another challenge was remaining calm while a young man in a wheelchair took her for a spin around the room. The biggest test was having a German Shepherd Dog walk through the room to see how Izze would react.“ She was calm about everything,” Donna said.“ Everyone was so positive and amazed by her.” Typically, handlers leave the room while judges discuss the assessment results, but Donna was informed that Izze passed the assessment immediately after it concluded.
“ It really was the most special thing to watch that sweet dog test,” Paula Willis, the president of the Warm Hearts Network said.“ I know that in all the years I’ ve been with Warm Hearts, we have never tested a dog with that kind of disability. The dog is completely blind, but she did a better job than some of our seeing dogs. I think she is going to make a big impact at the places she visits and will make an amazing difference in our community.”
Izze is eager to put on her therapy dog vest and patch that states: Pet Me, I’ m a Therapy Dog.“ Izze wears her vest very proudly,” Donna said.“ She gets so excited when she knows the vest is going on. She runs to the door and waits to go to the car. She seems to know when it is Thursday … she doesn’ t behave that way on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.”
Ironically, Izze’ s biggest hurdle to becoming a therapy dog was convincing Donna to keep her after her son brought home an odd-looking puppy with scraggly hair.“ We already had three other dogs, so I tried to find her another home,” Donna explained.“ But Izze showed me how incredibly smart she is by learning obedience commands and tricks very quickly. She was showing me how amazing she is. I always knew I needed to do something with her, and then I heard about Warm Hearts. I just wish I had done it sooner. But even at the age of nearly 14, Izze puts a lot of smiles on the faces of children.”
Izze at work.
Despite her blindness, Izze enjoys going out and bringing smiles to students with her scraggly mohawk.
The APDT Chronicle of the Dog | Summer 2025 25