Community Service with Ronon
When I adopted Ronon in October 2021, he was afraid of everything. To build trust, we started training together, beginning with the basics—house training, manners, leash walking, and recall. As he gained confidence, we moved on to obedience and other structured classes.
It quickly became clear that Ronon loved being out in the world with me—especially when people stopped to say hello to him. Training him for therapy dog certification was a natural next step.
After joining Comfort Caring Canines, we began visiting Roberts Elementary School and the Fox Chase Library. As of February 2025, Ronon has been a therapy dog for about 16 months, and we currently visit Caley Elementary, the Fox Chase Library, Covenant House PA, and Philadelphia International Airport. He has completed almost 50 visits so far and seems to enjoy them more every time.
Covenant House PA
Visiting Covenant House PA has been especially meaningful. Meeting and talking with the residents and staff has been eye-opening, deepening my understanding of the challenges these young people face. The more I’ve learned about Covenant House’s mission, the more I’ve wanted to contribute in any way I can.
In November 2024, Ronon and I participated in Sleep Out, a fundraising event to support Covenant House’s programs for homeless youth. We raised $2,350 while also experiencing, in a small way, the reality of sleeping outside on a cold, damp night. I was incredibly impressed by how well Ronon handled an 11-hour event, staying by my side on the sidewalk with his usual calm presence. He continues to amaze me with his adaptability and intelligence.
A late-night conversation at Sleep Out with Dr. Lydia Sit sparked an idea: creating a responsible pet ownership class for youth who are interested in getting pets once they move into their own apartments. I’m excited to collaborate on this project and help equip them with the knowledge and resources they need for a successful future with a pet.
Why I Do This Work
My dogs—first Snickers and now Ronon—have always been the driving force behind my community service.
Snickers pulled me into neighborhood involvement in Hell’s Kitchen, where I started by volunteering at our local dog run. That eventually led to founding a Shiba Inu Meetup group that grew into a rescue organization. Snickers also worked as a therapy dog, and we fostered dogs for multiple rescues and shelters.
With Ronon, I wasn’t planning to volunteer at all… he was enough work on his own! But his love for people naturally led us into therapy dog work, and that, in turn, inspired the Covenant House class project. Somehow, my dogs always seem to lead me exactly where I need to be.
If you’d like to read more about Ronon’s life, training, travels, and community service, he has a website at rononthewoof.com and he is on instagram as @ronon.the.woof.