On a hot summer’s afternoon in the shade, four dogs wait as a young boy is lifted out of his wheelchair and camp counselors carry him over to where the dogs stand calmly.

The boy watches the animals silently as he is gently set down on a blanket beside them. With eyes wide open, he allows the dog’s handler to place his hand onto one of the dogs, all of which are now lying still beside him.

For hours they rest next to each other, and when the counselors finally lift him back into his chair, his nurse notes that he has gone longer than ever without a seizure.

Stories such as this are commonplace every summer at Camp Korey in Carnation, Wash., thanks to the pet therapy program established five years ago by Kirkland native Diane Rich.

Currently, Rich is seeking additional pet therapy teams for the camp program.

Pet therapy works around the human-animal connection, primarily the simple, non-judgmental love given by animals.

A “team,” in pet therapy jargon, is an owner and an animal that is certified by one of the three approved national pet therapy organizations: Therapy Dogs International, Delta Society, and Therapy Dogs Inc.

At camp, dogs of all breeds, including mixed breeds, are the most common animals, but the program also includes a llama and a mini-horse.

“I will consider species outside of the canine species that are registered therapy pets,” Rich added.

Camp Korey is a summer camp for children with serious and life-altering medical conditions, and is free of charge.

The camp also offers therapeutic recreational activities year-round.

Founder Tim Rose hosts the camp on the historic Carnation Farms.

After speaking with Rich, he agreed to add the pet therapy program to the extensive catalog of activities, which include a swimming pool, sports court, climbing wall, zip-line, and teepee village.

Two days a week from the end of June through August, campers are welcome to daytime animal visits.

Rich has been a dog trainer and behavior expert for 25 years. Her involvement with pet therapy began after testing her pet Doberman Pincher for certification.

“I thought he’d be a wonderful therapy dog in any service settings,” she said.

Rich’s dog visited nursing homes, retirement homes, and hospitals in the Seattle area before she founded the pet therapy program at Overlake Hospital in 2005.

The environment at Camp Korey is very different from that at Overlake.

“Camp Korey is a little more sensitive than other programs,” Rich said. “The camp program is outdoors, and pets are within close proximity to other pets and people.”

In other words, animals must be “bomb-proof,” especially around a lot of stimulation and unfamiliarity.

One way to discern if a pet has therapy potential is to observe whether or not the animal responds in a calm and friendly manner around strangers. If so, the animal may have the right temperament for therapy work.

Rich is available to assess a team’s strengths and weaknesses. While one animal may be appropriate for a nursing home, the same animal may not fare well around children.

“Pet owners find a program that suites both ends of the leash,” Rich said.

Rich also offers training for individual animals or groups, and can recommend evaluators for therapy certification testing.

While there is no guarantee an animal will pass the test, the opportunity to share a pet’s love with others is worth a try.

Diane remembers another day at camp, during which a wary young girl inched her way over to the dogs. The approach took nearly 30 minutes, but once she reached the dog, the two were nearly inseparable for the rest of the evening.

“They were best friends,” Rich said. “That’s why we do this.”

To ask questions about the Camp Korey pet therapy program, or to schedule a team interview with Diane Rich, email askdiane@aol.com or visit her website at spokesdog.com.