(upbeat music) - Rocky Mountain Therapy Dogs is a nonprofit bringing healing and connection through trained therapy dog teams.

They offer free services throughout the community, and executive director Amber Miller joins us with more information.

Hi, Amber.

- Hello.

- You brought your friend, Luna.

- I did, definitely.

And we're so excited to be here.

I want to say thank you.

- She's beautiful.

So, she's your therapy dog that you take around.

- Yes.

So, she is mine.

I adopted her about a year and a half ago.

And she was terrified of people and everything, so had to work really hard with her.

But have now gotten it where she can be certified as a therapy dog.

- So, talk about what therapy dogs do and how important they are for folks.

- Oh, definitely.

So therapy dogs, unlike service dogs, service dogs are trained just to focus on the person, the owner, and whatever needs that they need.

Versus therapy dogs, get to go to the community, so they get to be petted anywhere where we're allowed to be.

And so we go into schools, nursing homes, events, colleges, anything like that, just to help bring some cheer, bring down anxiety, and some love and joy.

- Yeah, and I'll tell you nothing does it like a dog.

I mean, I'm sure you've seen the effects that she has on people when you take her.

- Oh, definitely.

It is fun.

That is the joy, kind of the pay for me is seeing the smiles on people, see the tightness on them relax a little bit more because they get to be around the dogs.

- [Mary] Oh, yeah.

- And seeing the enjoyment that the dogs have.

Well, I have quite a few dogs that if people are not giving them attention, they let them know.

Say, "Hey, I'm here.

Give me attention."

So, they're trained to be able to do that, and love being around the people, and that's very joyful.

- And they do bring so much joy, I mean, everywhere they go.

And so how do people get their dog trained to be in your program?

- So, there's many different ways.

They can do training through us.

We have three levels of training that they can do.

They can also do training online on their own or other places.

All we ask is it's all positive reinforcement type training.

So, what that means is no harsh corrections, no E-collars, choke chains, things like that.

Everything's done in a positive way.

So, I have some that have gone with me through the whole program on it.

And then others are like, "I think I'm ready for my dog to be tested to be certified."

- Alright.

Well thank you so much for being here and bringing her.

Thank you.

- Yeah, thank you.

- And if you'd like to learn more about Rocky Mountain Therapy Dogs, very easy.

RmtDogs.org.

I'm Mary Dickson.

Thanks for watching "Contact".

(upbeat music) - Local events, arts, culture.

It's what brings us together.

Hi, I'm Mary Dickson.

Here on Contact, we introduce you to local events and organizations that serve your neighborhood.

If you work for a nonprofit and would like to appear on our show, please visit pbsutah.org/contact.