The Helena Chapter of Intermountain Therapy Animals was founded in 2014 by Adele Delp and CJ Puotinen. Its registered pet/handler teams visit three hospitals, two assisted living homes, a retirement home, and five schools in the Helena Valley. As the program grows, new facilities will be added to the schedule.
Our Philosophy
Pet therapy is such a popular activity that thousands of volunteers participate in hundreds of programs, but none of them match Intermountain Therapy Animals’ professional standards, training, and handler support. We chose Intermountain Therapy Animals because of its attention to the details that make pet visits safe for everyone involved – including clients, family members, facility staff, pets, and pet handlers – as well as enjoyable and effective.
Adele Delp
Adele Delp is the Helena Chapter’s ITA Evaluator and pet training workshop instructor. She has been training dogs and their handlers for over 25 years in obedience, rally, agility, herding, and therapy work. In addition to being a veterinary technician, Adele is certified in canine massage and practices Jin Shin Jyutsu (a Japanese acupressure technique) for animals. She is a Canine Good Citizen/Star Puppy evaluator for the American Kennel Club, a professional member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, and a C.L.A.S.S. (Canine Life and Social Skills) evaluator.
CJ Puotinen
CJ Puotinen was the Helena Chapter’s first ITA Training Instructor and R.E.A.D. Training Instructor. In 1994 she helped found the Hudson Valley Visiting Pet Program in New York. With her Labrador Retrievers Samantha and Chloe (pictured here), CJ made over a thousand therapy visits to facilities in New York and Montana. She is the author of several books and magazine articles about holistic pet care and positive training methods.
To contact the Salt Lake City headquarters of Intermountain Therapy Animals,
Visit www.therapyanimals.org
Phone 801-272-3439, Fax 801-272-3470
Send mail to ITA, 4050 South 2700 East, Salt Lake City UT 84124