Disqualified from the B.C. and Alberta Guide Dogs training program because of his allergies, Jango乌鸦传媒檚 budding career as a service dog was over. But thankfully for the caring canine, a new equally fulfilling role was just around the corner.
Adopted in October 2023 by Cheryl Diebel, director of New Roads Therapeutic Recovery Community in View Royal, the two-year-old golden Labrador now works as a qualified assisted therapy dog at the centre.
乌鸦传媒淢y job is to bring joy, healing and peace to an amazing group of men,乌鸦传媒� "says" the dog in his Instagram bio. 乌鸦传媒淎s a working therapy dog, I take my job very seriously, but I still have fun.乌鸦传媒�
The centre, which is part of Our Place Society, is a long-term residential treatment facility for men over the age of 19 who live with acute and chronic substance use issues. Priority is given to men who have experienced homelessness and involvement with the criminal justice system.
Alongside the programs at the centre and the support the men offer each other, Jango comes to New Roads from Monday to Friday, attending group and individual counselling sessions, as well as joining residents for their weekly yoga sessions.
With his calm manner, Jango provides comfort to the men when needed, helping reduce stress and anxiety. He also helps improve social interactions between residents, especially for those feeling shy, giving them something to talk about.
But ultimately, Jango乌鸦传媒檚 role is to show the residents unconditional love, something they may not have experienced before arriving at New Roads.
乌鸦传媒淗e is a stabilizing factor here,乌鸦传媒� said Diebel. 乌鸦传媒淲hen he walks into a room, everything lightens up a lot.乌鸦传媒�
As part of his training to be a therapy dog, Jango has learned to identify when someone is feeling upset, frustrated or angry, approaching them to offer comfort and soothing.
乌鸦传媒淚t feels like acceptance for the person 乌鸦传媒� he乌鸦传媒檚 very intuitive that way,乌鸦传媒� she says.
For Dan, a resident at New Roads for over four months, Jango乌鸦传媒檚 presence offers him a welcome boost and distraction from his struggles.
乌鸦传媒淚t means a lot,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淲hen you're suffering from addiction and you're sitting there 乌鸦传媒� when Jango comes in with his big eyes and he's just so happy and excited to see you, it really just lifts you up.乌鸦传媒�
Dog-lover Dan particularly remembers his arrival at New Roads, and how Jango helped ease him into life in the recovery centre.
乌鸦传媒淭here's a lot of ups and downs when you first arrive, especially mentally,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淥ne day you're kind of feeling up and then next thing you乌鸦传媒檙e down 乌鸦传媒� kind of feeling low and stuff. But Jango always makes me feel like he's listening, every time I see him it puts me in a much better mood.乌鸦传媒�
Diebel also remembers the first time Dan met Jango, remembering the moment he chose to sit on the new resident乌鸦传媒檚 lap.
乌鸦传媒淗e's not a lap dog, but he will pick certain people 乌鸦传媒� Dan is one of them,乌鸦传媒� she said. "The first time I saw him do that with Dan, he just lit up 乌鸦传媒� you could see Dan just felt that connection with Jango.乌鸦传媒�
In her role as director, Diebel says she has always been treated respectfully by the men at New Roads, but since Jango乌鸦传媒檚 arrival last year, she has seen a shift in how she is greeted around the centre 乌鸦传媒� residents say 乌鸦传媒榟i乌鸦传媒� to Jango first, Diebel second.
乌鸦传媒淲hich is really good because you can tell the pecking order and Jango乌鸦传媒檚 up there,乌鸦传媒� she says. 乌鸦传媒淗e乌鸦传媒檚 top dog in this place and he deserves it.乌鸦传媒�
With New Roads expected to open its new women乌鸦传媒檚 centre in the winter, with space for 20 beds, demand for Jango乌鸦传媒檚 love and support is set to rise, with his time divided between the two programs.
乌鸦传媒淭he most exciting part is he will be the only male worker at the women's centre,乌鸦传媒� said Diebel. 乌鸦传媒淪o, he's pretty excited about that.乌鸦传媒�
To follow Jango's journey as a therapy dog at New Roads, visit his Instagram page: www.instagram.com/jangotherecoverydog/.
