are specially trained dogs that provide comfort, emotional support, and stress relief to people in places like hospitals, schools, nursing homes, offices and community settings.
Unlike service dogs, which are trained to perform specific tasks for one individual, therapy dogs work with a handler and interact with many different people to improve overall well-being.
Piper is a American Kennel Club and Alliance of Therapy Dog certified therapy dog. She is an American Foxhound who has been specially trained to provide comfort and emotional support to others by her owner and handler Cathy Baker-Burgess.
Piper is known for her gentle, friendly nature and plays an important role in supporting Cathy’s mission to give back to the community through therapy dog work.
Cathy and Piper’s Story
Cathy’s path into therapy dog work began with her late dog, Skylar, a 100-pound Rottweiler. Due to Skylar’s size and strength, Cathy initially faced challenges with walking and control, which led her to commit to six months of consistent training. Through this experience, Cathy discovered a passion for working with dogs and recognized the importance of proper training and discipline.
Inspired by this journey, Cathy decided she wanted to pursue therapy dog work. As a Christmas gift, she asked her husband to support her in training Piper specifically for therapy services. In 2024, she started training Piper. Piper began with regular obedience training and advanced obedience training before specialized therapy dog training.
For Cathy, therapy dog work is more than a hobby, it is her way of giving back and volunteering in the community. Together, Cathy and Piper now visit schools, hospitals, offices and other settings, providing comfort, support, and connection to those in need.
Piper has visited and provided comfort for people in southern and central Connecticut more than 50 times.
Some places are:
Assisted Living Facility —Branford
A Hartford Healthcare Hospital
First Responders—East Lyme
Middle and High Schools —Killingworth, Madison, Deep River
Military Academy — New London County
Girl Scouts of Connecticut — Middlesex County
Piper wants to help as many people as she can specifically in New Haven, Middlesex, New London County.
Piper’s Certifications
Piper is certified and insured through the American Kennel Club and Alliance of Therapy Dogs.
American Kennel Club certification shows that Piper has been evaluated for basic good manners, obedience, and temperament. The AKC’s therapy programs (like Canine Good Citizen and therapy dog registration) focus on making sure a dog is well-behaved in public settings and can safely interact with different people.
Alliance of Therapy Dogs certification is a separate program that specifically trains and tests dogs for therapy work in real environments like hospitals, schools, and care facilities. It requires supervised visits and ensures the dog is calm, friendly, and comfortable around strangers, medical equipment, and unpredictable situations.
Therapy dogs provide a wide range of emotional, psychological, and social benefits, especially in high-stress environments like hospitals, schools, and care facilities.
They are known to:
Reduce stress and anxiety by helping people feel calmer and more relaxed
Improve mood and emotional well-being through comfort and companionship
Lower feelings of loneliness by providing nonjudgmental social interaction
Encourage communication and social engagement, especially in patients or students who may be withdrawn
Support coping during difficult situations, such as illness, grief, or academic pressure
Create a calming environment in clinical and educational settings
Increase motivation and participation in therapy, learning, or recovery activities
— Josh Billings
Follow us on Instagram
@cathyandpipertherapy
Contact us through Email
PiperTherapyDog@gmail.com
