Matt and his dog Velvet are a certified Dove Lewis Animal
Assisted Therapy team. They work together in the North
Clackamas School District where Matt is a teacher.
Velvet works with special needs children, giving them
the benefits of her calm presence and her gentle touch.
Children often respond to Velvet or do things for her
when they won’t respond to anyone else. Velvet helps
these children through their daily challenges, she helps
Matt guide these young students and she inspires
everyone to work as a team. Matt trains special
education teachers for the district. His expertise
combined with Velvet’s special gift for teamwork has a
unique effect on everyone around them. The pair embodies
the human/animal bond, the benefits it can generate, and
the incredible spirit it embodies. During a February
2007 snow storm on Mount Hood, Matt and Velvet were
separated from their group and stranded with two other
climbers, one of whom was badly injured. Velvet took
turns cuddling with each of her companions keeping them
alert and warm in their snow cave as they waited for
rescuers, who later credited Velvet with saving their
lives that night.
