Vacation Bible school supports training of new Bert Nash therapy dog

Sunny, the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center therapy-dog-in-training, made some new friends this summer.

The 7-month-old Lab/Golden Retriever mix will go through training this summer and fall to become certified as a therapy dog with her finally putting on her therapy dog vest after her training is completed. And Sunny’s training will be funded in part by a donation from the Immanuel Lutheran Church’s Vacation Bible School.

The pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Randy Weinkauf, presented a check for $255 on July 17 to Rose Murray, Sunny’s owner. Murray is a clinical case manager in the Secondary Therapeutic Classroom at Bert Nash.

“Sunny and I were excited about this opportunity for us and the Secondary Therapeutic Classroom,” Murray said. “We are thrilled to receive this gracious gift.”

Heather Flachsbarth Ornes from Immanuel Lutheran Church contacted Cindy Hart, Bert Nash development director, after reading articles about Sunny and the use of therapy dogs in the Secondary Therapeutic Classroom.

“We actually have a therapy dog that attends our church. His name is Jack. Jack was the inspiration for learning more about therapy dogs,” said. “We are excited to be able to help support Sunny with our 2014 Vacation Bible School offering.”

Sunny is the latest in a line of therapy dogs working at Bert Nash. Sunny is replacing Ranger, a Jack Russell Terrier, as the Bert Nash therapy dog. Ranger belongs to Lanell Finneran, a longtime teacher in the Secondary Therapeutic Classroom, who retired in May. Ranger’s predecessor, Scout, another Jack Russell, also belongs to Finneran.

“Sunny will spend the majority of her time in the classroom, but she is available to help all clients and staff at Bert Nash,” Murray said. “Therapy dogs can have a very calming effect on tense situations, help increase compliance with children and change the mood just with the wag of a tail.”