Hand in Paw, the Birmingham animal-assisted therapy organization, is about to certify a pair of goats, Flanders and Clarine, as therapy animals. And soon, Hand in Paw will have a Pig as well.
Pig, the unusual dog owned by Kim Dillenbeck, a Helena contractor, visited Hand in Paw's new headquarters today, and the staff, led by executive director Laura Cardwell, gathered for the meet and greet.
See, that's how it is when Pig goes out. She attracts crowds with her unusual appearance. Her story has gone viral, and she has become a world-wide sensation. Pig loves the attention and hardly knows a stranger.
A first question to Cardwell this morning: Will Pig be a Hand in Paw therapy animal?
"Yes, without a doubt," Cardwell said. Then she immediately talked about where Pig could help -- and it's not a short list.
Kim Dillenbeck, holding Pig, along with Laura Cardwell, executive director of Hand in Paw Animal Assisted Therapy.
innovative 12-week program that teaches compassion and anger management to at-risk children and youth." The website describes No More Bullies as a program that "gives children the skill set to solve problems in a loving, caring and productive way for all involved and the courage to stand up for themselves and those who are weaker."
Pig would be a great fit because she is overcoming her own special problems and challenges and living life to the fullest.
Cardwell said Pig will also be a super at Children's Hospital, the Bell Center and the Exceptional Foundation.
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"Anytime you can get animals people have empathy for, that's good," Cardwell said. "This dog is going to be an ambassador to people who have special needs."
Dillenbeck said Pig rarely gets negative comments from people, despite her odd appearance. Pig's Facebook page, "Pig the Unusual Dog," launched just two weeks ago and already has more than 12,000 likes, as of this afternoon.
Dillenbeck said the most negative comment she hears is about Pig's name. But as Dillenbeck points out, when Pig was tiny, she looked like a little pig. Besides, Dillenbeck said, "I couldn't change her name; she already knew her name."
While Dillenbeck has been gracious in sharing Pig with the public, "she's a little tentative with touching. She isn't really touchy-feely."
Still, all the while at Hand in Paw this morning, Pig kept going from person to person, rubbing against their legs and begging for treats.
Since Pig is limited in movement, she'll receive special consideration for training. Cardwell hopes Pig's handlers will be able to go through training in the fall, with Pig officially joining Hand in Paw as a volunteer shortly thereafter.
"She's so sweet with people," Cardwell said. "You're really drawn to her face and smile. This dog is going to be very important to people."
See a video of Pig playing fetch below:
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