WARFA Loses A Puppy

WARFA Home Page

Movie of Tippy performing tricks

Click any thumbnail to see a full sized image. "Superdog" Tippy Tippy at the WARFA Fall 2003 retreat September 2006: Tippy wins an award for her work. (Image taken from The Paws 4 Healing web site.) Tippy shared the Siwulas' home with her step sister, Blondie (left), Blondie's half sister, Rio (center), and a cat named Bert.

Tippy was something special.

With a little help from Mike in her role as a therapy dog, she brought cheer to hospital patients and helped children to build their reading skills.

A therapy dog is a dog trained to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, mental institutions, schools, and stressful situations such as disaster areas.^[1]

Therapy dogs are tested to see how they handle stressful situations such as strange places, unknown people, and unusual noises. They undergo a hard training program that can last up to a year before they are certified.

On September 12th, 2006 she was honored with two awards for all she did. She was recognized by the City of Santa Clarita and the Red Cross Of Los Angeles as a Hometown Hero - Animal Hero Winner.

Tippy's certificate from the City of Santa Clarita

Tippy's certificate from the American Red Cross

She received her certificates and a medallion during a special ceremony. At the award ceremony there was an exhibit which described Tippy's work and detailed the reasons why she won her award.

See the exhibit.

As it says in the citation included in the exhibit...

"Tippy, and her master Mike Siwula spend an average of 20 hours per week providing unconditional love and the willingness to please patients, caretakers, family members, and students.

Mike, who also drives her to all her visits is just as much a hero as Tippy II."

In March of 2007 The Santa Clarita Signal published a feature article about Tippy that describes how she helped children sharpen their reading skills. We've brought it back to the web site: Woof! A Reading Program with a Bark