One great part about Friday, other than it being Friday, is hanging out with the good people at St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program. This fabulous program places well behaved dogs (which mine aren't - but we'll get to that) with people who can use a little lift to their day. The dogs (accompanied by their driver/poop scooper/human) bring happiness to members of the community who are sick, lonely or reside in full-time care facilities. Here's a great story to demonstrate the power of this fantastic program as told by Dyno's owner:
" Dyno and I spent most of our time with a woman who we learned does not get many visitors and is a real animal lover. At one point I saw Pamela standing within earshot of us and the expression on her face was priceless! She had tears in her eyes when she told me that she had not heard Agnes put a sentence together for a very, very long time. And there was Agnes talking to Dyno and me in full sentences. Then when Dyno and I were leaving three nurses came to the front door (all with tears in their eyes as well) and told me that when Dyno and I went for a walk with Agnes (I let Agnes hold the end of the leash while I controlled Dyno close to his collar) she walked a distance they never thought was possible - and without getting winded at all. She usually only walks a short distance, and gets winded. She and Dyno and I walked around most of the facility and she was talking in sentences the whole time with he and I. With all the staff at the door sharing this news with me, and by this time I am of course fighting back tears of joy, I realized how much I am going to enjoy this. And I told them, "Well, that is why Dyno and I are here!"
Way to go Dyno!
I love that story. It's amazing what a little puppy love will do for a person.
We had a great opportunity to do a little fundraising for this program using our Lucky Dog Biscuits. Through the stellar sales efforts of the dedicated St. John volunteers, we raised over $500 selling our treats. Great selling job St. John Volunteers!! You are hired.
This money will help place 10 new therapy dog teams by paying for special team uniforms, the police record checks required to work with vulnerable people, and the dogs' in-depth orientations(read: behaviour testing) before being approved as official Therapy Dogs.
My dogs aren't actually Therapy Dogs. They wouldn't quite pass the tests. Curly might except for the part where he would have to interact with people. Curly is a bit old and not really interested in socializing - unless there is food involved. We got him from the Humane Society when he was 12 years old. Someone had abandoned him...in winter... in Winnipeg. Who does that?!? As the Humane Society put it " he was looking for a good retirement home". How could I resist?
Now Curly is 14 and well into retirement. He's a bit too old to go through the Therapy dog testing but he is the official Lucky Dog senior taste tester.
Cooper is younger (just turned 1) but as a young rescue dog he is a little too freaked out with new people and new situations to be a good Therapy dog. He was picked up by the Humane Society with an injured leg and three broken teeth but they had no idea what happened to him. Given his fear of cars and people, I would guess he was hit by one of the two, but who knows. We're working with him but it will take some time. Since we have only had him for six months, he still has lots of time to become a good Therapy dog. He's really sweet and once he knows someone, he is more than happy to give hugs and kisses. But until he know you, he treats you as though you have the plague and takes a wide path around you to find some safe place to watch you out of harms way.
To become a therapy dog with St. John Ambulance the dogs must be at least 1 year old, have attended several obedience lessons and be well socialized. It is also requested that volunteers be able to commit to the program for at least one year as people become attached to the dogs and look forward to their visits. In Manitoba, check out the St. John Ambulance website or outside of MB there is another organization called PALS.
Everyone needs a little dog therapy once in a while. I know I get mine daily with my two office mates, Curly and Cooper. I can't wait to get Cooper trained up so he can give others some Cooper lovin'.
Have a great weekend.
mavis
"Austin has touched a lot of lives at Riverview Health Center. The gentleman in the picture is Frank. He waited and waited for Austin to come visit and would allow Austin to jump up with him. From the moment they met they had a special bond, mostly because Frank would sneak pieces of Peanut Butter cookies to Austin. They shared some great hugs and kisses. We gave Frank our number so when he went home, Austin could still come to visit. Little Austin continues to bring sunshine to Frank's days."
