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18 | May 3, 2018 | The Northbrook tower news
northbrooktower.com
Northfield resident Margot Igoe (right) talks with Susan and Alan Kremin, of
Northbrook, on April 22 at Wags on Willow about their dog, Teddy, who may become
a certified therapy dog. ALEXA BURNELL/22ND CENTURY MEDIA
A doggone help for others
Residents learn
about training
dogs for therapy
certification
Alexa Burnell
Freelance Reporter
Margot Igoe is a therapy
dog owner, handler
and trainer, knowing how
man’s best friend can bring
comfort, joy and a smile to
the face of a child struggling
with life’s challenges.
She and her pooch have
worked at Middlefork
School, helping kindergartners
learn to read. At Highland
Park Hospital and
Compass Health Center in
Northbrook, her dog provides
relief for adolescents
dealing with anxiety, depression
and other socialemotional
issues.
And, on April 22, Igoe
partnered with Wags on
Willow dog and cat grooming
salon, teaching local
families all they need to
know about training their
pet to become a certified
therapy dog.
“The work that I have
done over the years has
been so rewarding, which is
why I’m here today to teach
others about what it means
to have a therapy dog, and
to understand the process of
getting certified,” Igoe said.
“I’ve worked in hospital settings
and am continuously
amazed when I see how a
dog can bring comfort to a
young adult, in a way no human
can do. Dogs provide
unconditional love and acceptance,
positively impacting
someone in need.”
As visitors came in and
out of the store, Igoe educated
guests on the nuances
of between a service dog,
emotional support dog and
a therapy dog.
“There are distinguishing
factors of each, so
people who are considering
certifying their dog need to
know the differences and
the laws behind each title,”
she said.
For example, service and
emotional support dogs are
not household pets, while
a therapy dog usually is.
It is recommended that a
stranger does not pet a service
or emotional support
dogs when they are on the
job, as they could become
distracted. A therapy dog,
however, can be a pet if the
owner allows.
When Northbrook residents
and clients of Wags
on Willow Susan and Alan
Kremin learned about the
chance to meet with Igoe,
they were eager to gain her
insight.
“I have two dogs, one
who is incredibly hyper,
but the other who, I believe,
has a calling in life to
help others,” Susan Kremin
said. “I just feel he could
bring so much joy to someone’s
life and I want to give
him the opportunity to do
so.”
Mary Bower, owner of
Wags on Willow, said the
event was just one of the
many services she provides
the community.
“The chance to meet with
Margot today fits in with
what we try to provide for
our customers and for the
community,” Bower said.
“Even if someone isn’t a
pet owner yet, we want to
create an environment for
them to come in and ask
us questions, get to know
us and see us as a resource
within the community.”
For more information
on Wags on Willow and
upcoming programs, visit
wagsonwillow.com. To
reach Margot Igoe, email
her at msigoe@aol.com.