Like many people with a pet that becomes a therapy dog, Karen Fishman feels rewarded and blessed when she sees her dog Cesar awaken joy and interest in the patients they visit in nursing homes. Cesar was adopted from a Miami shelter and he turned out to have an unusually docile and gentle nature. Since Karen registered Cesar as a therapy dog she has witnessed depressed patients come to life in the dogs presence. Shes also seen patients with muscle atrophy begin to open and spread their hands to stroke Cesar and feel the healing touch of an affectionate animal.
Karens nursing home clients eagerly anticipate Cesars visits and cant wait to have another chance to pet and talk to the dog. While shes been a pet therapy volunteer Karen has observed all these things and was inspired to do more. She learned from physical therapists at rehabilitation centers that patients really need to experience the comfort of touch. Karen saw firsthand how nursing home residents were starved for touch. Her desire to do more to help spawned an idea of what she could do to accomplish her goal.
It was a nine month process but thats how long it took for Karen, her sister Debbie Thompson and the talented designers at CustomPlush.com (a division of Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company) to design their first Therapy Pet, a plush therapy animal made to provide companionship, inspiration and comfort to adults and children. Its the first in the Therapy Petz new line of healing products, soon to be available in hospital gift shops.
Karen Fishman with one of her Therapy Pets.
Karen and her sister Debbie, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a 20-year career providing individual and family therapy to children and adults, had a very specific animal in mind. They wanted the softest feel to the animal so a very high quality of faux fur is used. The first Therapy Pet is a dog named Bo, with a heart-shaped nose and a flat head that looks and feels like a Golden Retriever. The plush dog is outfitted with a therapy dog vest that can also be used to hold heating or cold packs. Its paws have a special feel to them because they contain beads that have a healing quality when stroked. She also has plans to outfit the dogs collar so that it can play classical music.
“My plans are to donate part of the profits from each plush to an animal welfare organization,” says Karen, very much an animal lover herself. Initially she envisions the Therapy Petz products targeted to children and the elderly. “Being in a hospital can be a very stressful experience and its important to provide patients with as much healing and comfort as possible.”
To educate children about Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT), part of the Therapy Petz line will include a childrens book about a therapy dog that comforts a young boy named Eric. After being hospitalized, Eric works through the five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance). The book is written by Karen Fishman and Debbie Thompson, LCSW, an expert in the field of childhood trauma. It is being illustrated by an extremely talented artist, Francois of Franfou Studios.
“The loving touch of an animal has the power to comfort and heal us physically, emotionally and spiritually,” says Karen. Her hope is that the products in her Therapy Petz line can also further the healing process, while donating money to animal welfare organizations, and educating and inspiring the community about Animal Assisted Therapy. Her goals also include making Therapy Petz available at every South Florida hospital gift shop by the end of this year.
Like many people with a pet that becomes a therapy dog, Karen Fishman feels rewarded and blessed when she sees her dog Cesar awaken joy and interest in the patients they visit in nursing homes. Cesar was adopted from a Miami shelter and he turned out to have an unusually docile and gentle nature. Since Karen registered Cesar as a therapy dog she has witnessed depressed patients come to life in the dogs presence. Shes also seen patients with muscle atrophy begin to open and spread their hands to stroke Cesar and feel the healing touch of an affectionate animal. 
To educate children about Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT), part of the Therapy Petz line will include a childrens book about a therapy dog that comforts a young boy named Eric. After being hospitalized, Eric works through the five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance). The book is written by Karen Fishman and Debbie Thompson, LCSW, an expert in the field of childhood trauma. It is being illustrated by an extremely talented artist, Francois of Franfou Studios.
“The loving touch of an animal has the power to comfort and heal us physically, emotionally and spiritually,” says Karen. Her hope is that the products in her Therapy Petz line can also further the healing process, while donating money to animal welfare organizations, and educating and inspiring the community about Animal Assisted Therapy. Her goals also include making Therapy Petz available at every South Florida hospital gift shop by the end of this year.
