Man's best friend is best therapy

CELINA - Grand Lake United Methodist Church staff member Tolin can often be found strolling around the children's hall on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings.

If she misses a day of work, children and family ministry leader Matt Overman is often peppered with questions: Where's Tolin? Will she be coming in today? What kind of treats does she like?

Tolin is a German short-haired pointer and beagle mix.

The beloved canine joined the church's staff as a certified therapy dog in January of 2020.

Overman said he and Tolin met through a mutual friend.

The rescue pup was hand-picked at four months old to be trained as a service dog for a military veteran at Home Away from Home in Hunstville, Overman said.

Although she excelled in her training, Overman said Tolin was unable to be paired with her intended owner. Her trainers didn't want her talents to go to waste, so the search for a new pet parent began.

Overman said staff at the training center had three requirements for the person chosen for Tolin: She had to keep her name, as that was the name she was trained with; she had to be a working dog; and her new family had to work with children.

"God opened a door," Overman said. "We met her and we fell in love."

Due to the fact that Tolin's upbringing mostly involved training, Overman said one of the first things she had to learn at her new home was how to be a regular dog. She quickly made herself at home with Overman's immediate family and church family, he said.

Tolin passed the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen test after her first birthday, Overman said. Canine Good Citizen certification, or CGC, is a prerequisite for many therapy dog certifications, he said.

Overman said he and Tolin are also part of Canines 4 Christ, a Christian-based non-profit organization which uses ordinary people and their dogs in an animal-assisted therapy ministry. Overman is a chaplain for the organization.

Outside of her work at the church, Tolin and Overman also visit local schools and libraries, he said.

Overman said he received some disaster response training as part of his work with Canines for Christ. Disasters come in many forms, he said, from a bad day at work or school to a tornado. Tolin offers people experiencing such hardships a moment to rest and take a break, Overman said.

The canine excels at soothing the soul, he said.

Some children at church have a hard time being separated from their parents during worship service due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, while others may simply be going through a rough patch.

No matter the reason for distress, Overman said Tolin is there, waiting patiently, for whoever may need her.

"Having a dog there for people who loves them for who they are, without bias or judgement, that's the real power that I see in a service dog," he said. "It can be hard for me to hear stories from kids that are struggling, but she has so much patience."

If an individual feels called to serve others through pet therapy and has a well-behaved pup themselves, Overman said he would be more than happy to help.

For more information on Canines for Christ and pet therapy ministry, contact Overman at moverman@grandlakechurch.org.