Dogs have long been considered to be man's best friend, but it also turns out they have the power to heal. For older citizens, dogs and other animals can have a calming effect that is therapeutic and there are organizations specifically geared toward providing such a service.

Fairfax Pets On Wheels, Inc is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization that was started in 1987 with the goal of providing companionship for residents in assisted living facilities through pet therapy. "It's been medically proven to relieve high blood pressure, depression and loneliness. Folks who otherwise don't communicate [react to the pets]," said Ruth Benker, Director of Communication for Fairfax Pets on Wheels.

The organization is sponsored by the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging and has a total of 300 volunteer teams comprised of a human volunteer and an animal. There are 10 teams for Arden Courts, the group's Annandale location at 7104 Braddock Road.

"[The residents] really open up when we bring the pets," said Carla Graham, facility liaison for Arden Courts, one of the group's 12 locations in the county. "It brings back memories. They talk about the pets they had when they were young."

Most of the FPOW pets are dogs, but the group also allows cats and bunnies. The pets usually belong to the volunteers, are the grandchildren or gran-animals of the volunteers, or belong to their neighbor.

Both Graham and Benker believe the biggest benefit of the visits is the interaction between the residents who live in the facilities and the pets from FPOW.

"A lot of the residents don't want to participate in activities, but the pets come in and they want to interact with the pet, so that gives them the opportunity to come out of their shell and be themselves," Benker said. "They might not remember Carla's name, but I bet they'll remember [Carla's 10-year-old mixed breed dog] Cheyenne's."

In order to become a volunteer, individuals have to apply online through the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging's website and go through an hour-long orientation session. After orientation, the pets undergo a temperament evaluation to gauge their behavior. The pet's health is then checked by FPOW to ensure all of their vaccines are up to date and the pet is free of disease. Lastly, volunteers go through on-site training with an experienced volunteer. It is Graham's responsibility and the responsibility of other facility liaisons to monitor the response of the pet and their owner when they visit a facility for the first time. If the pet is uncomfortable, the facility liaison needs to see if the human can control the pet in the environment before they approve the team. No volunteer team visits a facility without final approval from the facility liaison.

Once approved, volunteers can visit the assisted living facilities as little or as often as they like. Graham said she visits once a month, but some people stop by every week. Because you end up "establishing relationships with the residents," Benker says it's important for volunteers to visit facilities when they say they will.

The length of each visitation varies depending on the mood of the pet, but most visits last for an hour or shorter. Each FPOW pet must be under the control of the volunteer they've trained and were approved with at all times. The FPOW visits are so popular and the health benefits of such therapy are so well documented that there's a waiting list of over 12 facilities in the area hoping to bring FPOW teams to their residents.

While many of the group's volunteers sign up to be a team with their cat, dog or bunny, FPOW welcomes volunteers who don't have pets. Though they're a non-profit, Benker says the organization has a "wonderful" relationship with the county and receives administrative help when they need it. The county also gave the group their office, located in the Government Center in Fairfax.

Much of the organization's volunteer efforts outside of the visits as of late have been focused on putting the final touches on their upcoming 15th Annual Paws for a Cause 3K Walk on Sunday, Oct. 3 at 12 p.m. at Weber's Pet Supermarket on 11021 Lee Highway in Fairfax. "This has been our best year for pre-registered people, so we're pretty excited about that," said Benker, who's been with FPOW for over 18 years.

The event, which costs $20 to register, will feature a DJ, door prizes and a couple of veterinarians and facilities from the county will have tables at the walk. All registered participants will receive a "Paws for a Cause" T-shirt. The money from the walk, as with all donations to FPOW, will go toward advertising, training, legal and accounting fees, newsletter printing and other expenses needed to run the organization.

For more information about the Paws for a Cause 3K Walk or Fairfax Pets on Wheels, visit their website. You can also follow them on Twitter.