Songs and games enlivened Careage of Whidbey in Coupeville one recent Saturday when Paws for Love, a group of Delta Society Pet Partners from Whidbey Island, made their debut performance.

“It was great,” Joy Thompson said after Paws for Love’s initial performance.

Thompson started Paws for Love with her dogs Molly and Clancy. Thompson and Molly have visited adult residences in Seattle for three years. She and Clancy visit patients at Whidbey General Hospital. Several Paws for Love teams travel to Oak Harbor’s Olympic View Elementary School at least once a month to be a part of a class’s reading program.

Paws for Love members are pet partners trained and evaluated by Delta Society. This Bellevue-based center advocates animal assisted activities and therapy for people of all ages and health.

Dogged entertainment might seem out of place for an assisted living home. But dogs aren’t out of place at Careage. The home’s on-site canine, Tobias, visits daily. Cats, birds and fish also make Careage their home.

Careage residents’ faces lit up as Paws for Love canines and their people began rounds.

Doc, Molly, Lily, Trixie, Denzi, Clancy, Jasper and Buster brought a change of scene, a few barks and a bit of drool to the home, along with plenty of love.

“It’s wonderful,” Careage resident Mary Seth said. “Particularly for someone like me who is in a wheelchair and doesn’t get around much.”

“All the residents love dogs,” Patricia Seth-Tuttle said. “This bring so much happiness into their lives.”

Seth-Tuttle said Careage’s liberal animal policy makes a great difference at the home.

“I think it keeps people going,” she said.

Seth, her daughter, other residents and Careage staff watched the dogs put their handlers through routines.

After introductions, the group made their grand entrance. People sang “Jingle Bells” as their dogs pranced around shaking collars festooned with bells.

Residents became animated at the sight of the dogs. People sitting rigid relaxed as the dogs circled the floor. People slumping lifted their heads and straightened their shoulders.

Delta Society aims itself at these positive reactions to animals.

Since 1977, Delta Society has broadcast news of humans’ positive reactions to pets; Pet Partners started in 1997 and has grown in those seven years.

“More facilities are requesting Pet Partner visits,” Michelle Cobie, Delta Society resource specialist, said.

She’s never met a person who said their team did not benefit from making visits.

Delta Society Pet Partners don’t merely show off their animals. Pet Partner training focuses on human-animal interaction. For every ear rub, the human partner visits for a few minutes, discussing their animal’s background while talking with shut-ins.

This interaction provides lasting benefits to sometimes isolated people.

“It’s wonderful and precious,” Rosamund Seeman said in an almost inaubile voice.

People may not be able to speak, but you can see (how excited they are) from the light in their eyes,” Carol Samplawski, Careage’s activities director, said.

Pet Partners must pass rigorous tests: Written tests for the people, practical evaluations for the human-animal team

Residents marveled over the dogs’ soft coats. That’s standard with Pet Partners. Delta Society requires animals be bathed not more than 24 hours before a visit. Other safety measures for the animal include up-to-date shot records, parasite control as well as excellent dental hygiene and clean paws.

Researchers have shown animal-person interaction promotes faster healing and reaches almost-inaccessible patients. This non-invasive therapy offers contact, companionship and a break in routine for every person involved.

“Trixie sparks memories in people,” Diana Fors said.

As a home health care and hospice nurse, Fors has taken Trixie and Buster along on visits where she’s seen sparks of life in patients’ eyes. Because Fors has seen the power of pet therapy, she can’t imagine life without companion animals.

“If I were in a home without animals, I might as well be dead,” she said.

For more information about Paws for Love, call Joy Thompson, 678-4731.