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Articles: Pets - Dog
Therapy for Humans
By Ruth
Bird
My little
neighbor, 10 year old Hope, came over to visit my dog. Hope, such a
beautiful name for a beautiful child, is a very grown up 10 year old
little girl. She loves my dog, Katie Bear. Katie is a big beautiful
Golden Retriever. Her nickname of bear came about because when she
scrunched her face it got all wrinkly, making her look like one of
these big expensive plush stuffed bears. She is so huggable. Katie
is also 14 years old and very sick. I have been holding off the
inevitable last act I must do for her. I have been pushing away my
duty to do what must be done, but what cannot be done. Ah, no way,
impossible. I cannot do it. Never! Not to my Katie. I carry Katie up
and down the stairs. Yes, I carry my Golden. I know soon I must do
this terrible duty, but not now, not today…or so I thought. Life
changed for me this day because wisdom came and visited me in the
guise of a young child. Hope came, looked at my Katie and said
“Sonja, your Katie, my friend looks so sad today, doesn’t she?” Well
that did it. I knew I must do what no one should ever have to do.
Katie was “leader” of the gang. She was friendship, love, compassion
and kindness all rolled into one “golden-bear”. Yes, my other dogs
followed in her pawsteps. She did not leave this world without
leaving her traces behind. She left us many wonderful “Golden
Memories”. My own golden nuggets I call them.
That was 2 ½
years ago. Today I hear… “Benny, Benny, come here Benny! “These are
sweet words in my ears. This call comes from Don, Benny’s friend.
Don is a veteran; he has lost both of his legs in the war but sits
proudly in his chair. Benny is his buddy, my black
lab.
Benny, my black lab, is about 6 years old now.
Benny is a wonderful dog (even though he likes to steal my pillows).
He loves going to visit our friends in the home. His tail is like a
rotator as soon as we come near our first “friend”. Clearly this is
where he loves to be. Actually, this is where he belongs. He is
gentle, good natured and full of love and affection. And, he is
always hungry….yup, a true lab, he is always hungry. Of course the
residents love to feed him cookies. He truly makes their day
brighter and better. “O boy, he is so soft”, or “Wow, he looks so
good.” These are comments I often hear.
Then there is Nikki,
my 2 year golden puppy. I call all my dogs “puppy”. Nikki is a
typical 2 year Golden. She is full of life. She keeps me hopping.
And, just like Benny, she brings pure gold to our friends. Nikki was
certified as a therapy dog just after she became one year old. Nikki
visits in a home called “Fields of Gold Manor”. On my fourth visit
with Nikki to the home, the director, Dorothy, noticed that one of
the residents was watching Nikki closely out of the corner of her
eye. Dorothy whispered to me “Why don’t you go over and show her
Nikki”. Well, I wasn’t really too thrilled at the prospect. I have
observed this patient, Helga, during the last three visits. She is
mean. Really! She lies in her chair; she is old with grey hair and a
constant scowl on her face. Anyone who comes near her or tries to
talk with her gets a tongue lashing. So I kept away from her. And
now, Dorothy asked me to take Nikki to her.
It’s a good
thing that dogs do not have preconceived ideas like we do. Nikki
stood beside her chair, leaning in, anxious to visit. The lady
slowly looked down at Nikki, and the biggest smile came over her
face. She was instantly transformed from an old lady with grey hair
into a warm friendly looking person. “Oh, my baby, my beautiful
looking dog” she crooned. “How beautiful you are, and so soft” she
whispered. Nikki must have sensed what was happening because she was
calm and very still, leaning into the chair even more. She gave
Helga the “Nikki look”. Actually, the best way to describe this look
is that it is just like “Diana’s famous look”; her head bent down
slightly, her eyes looking up at you, full of love and warmth and
acceptance.
“I had a dog just like you once”, “I miss her so
much, I really loved my dog” Helga stroked Nikki speaking only to
her. “Ask her some questions” Dorothy nudged me, “See if she will
talk with you”
“Helga, what was the name of your dog?” I asked
quietly, not wanting to disturb her thoughts. “Maxie.” “I loved my
Maxie so much but he is not here any more” tears run down her cheeks
as she stokes Nikki. This is enough for me to take in one day. I ask
one more question. “Helga, would you like me to bring Nikki back to
visit with you?” “O yes! Yes! Please, that would be so nice, I love
Nikki” “I have no one else; I am all alone you know.” So now we
visit with Helga regularly. Helga has quite a sense of humor, and we
all enjoy the time we spend together. What a happy ending this is.
It doesn’t always happen that way.
This brings me to another
experience. One I wish I could forget or go back in time and change.
I can do neither. I was visiting with Benny in the “Home on the
Hill”. Linda, the director, had asked me to go visit with Frank, a
new resident just moved in the day before. Benny and I walked into
the room and the first thing I noticed was a wall covered in framed
pictures of Golden Retrievers. They were everywhere. Frank was lying
on the bed; the ordeal of moving into his new home had worn him out.
He got up when he saw us. He looked handsome, tall with light grey
hair and sparkling eyes despite his condition. “You brought a dog”
“Oh, isn’t this so nice” “I have a Golden, you know”. “Yes, I see
that” I smile at him. “These must be pictures of your precious
Golden?”
“Yes, my baby is living with my sister now, in
Chatogway, about 4 hours from here” “I miss her so much.” He gently
starts to stroke Benny. “I know my sister looks after my Molly.” He
tries to be brave, but breaks into tears, leaning into Benny, his
face snuggled into Benny’s shoulder. “O thank you so much for
bringing Benny to see me, I just miss my Molly so much, this is so
wonderful.” “Will you come again” he pleads with me. “Of course I
will” “Benny wants to see you again too, we will be back soon”
Frank had a very hard time adjusting to his new home. His
biggest joy was always when Benny came. My, he got excited, happy,
even thrilled. Only dog lovers can understand this fully. Frank was
not feeling good today. “When will you bring Benny next time?” he
asks with a certain fear in his voice. “Soon, I will bring him soon”
I gently take his hand before we leave.
After my short
"sabbatical" I went back last Saturday night. This was an
unscheduled visit. I could have cried. Everyone was so very happy to
see Benny again (not me so much). We had a "Benny" party in the
lobby. What a wonderful time my Benny had. Of course he did!
Everyone was petting him and talking to him. Wow, he was being
treated like royalty It was just great to see this joy. We all
talked and laughed and joked. Everyone talked about their summer,
how they were doing, what was going on in their own world. I felt
better then I had for a long time. My new resolve is to go back to
my weekly visits no matter how busy I am. I do not want to miss out
on these opportunities anymore. Before going home, I took Benny up
to see Frank. I was so looking forward to see Frank’s joy at seeing
Benny. Heck, I had even taken a picture of Benny and given it to him
the last time I saw him. Just a little extra joy I wanted to pass
on.
We walked into the familiar room…it was empty. No
pictures, no clothes. Bed made. I felt the blood drain from my face.
I even started to shake a bit. I thought “no way”; what I am
thinking cannot be. I searched for Frank’s nurse. “Lilly, where is
Frank?”
Lilly looks at me sadly, she knows he meant a lot to me.
“Frank died last week.” “They found him in the morning. He passed
away gently during the night” “O wait, she says, I have something
for you.” She went to her nurse’s station and came back with the
picture of Benny that I had given to Frank. “ When we found him he
was holding this picture close to his heart”, “and I thought you
might want it back”
I slowly turned around once more, Benny
at my side. I looked at the empty bed, the wall that should have
been covered with pictures. I felt the emptiness deeper then I had
felt anything for a long time. I do not ever want to be reminded of
my mistake. The mistake of a promise made, and not kept. I knew
exactly how Frank felt. Lonely, forgotten, even his new friend
Benny, did not come as promised. He died alone reaching out for a
friend that could have been there, but was not. I cried for Frank,
for his loneliness, and for me.
I listen to a radio
station that once a year has a big blitz to collect money for the
Sick Children’s Hospital in our city. They set up a remote station
right there in the hospital lobby for three days and interview
parents and kids that have been touched by this hospital. The music
plays in the background as the kids, parents, doctors and nurses
tell their stories.
This year the radio station also
interviewed a lady with her therapy dog. The dog is a regular
volunteer in this hospital. The lady was telling us that one day a
young child, about 5 years old was dying. Mommy “I want my doggie
with me”, please, “I want my doggie here.” And of course, the dog
did come, after cutting through some red tape to be allowed into the
room with this child. The child died with the dog at her side. When
I heard this interview taking place while the dog was being petted
by the interviewer, I couldn’t stop crying. Everyone was crying.
What a moment.
There are also funny moments. I mean you mix
people and dogs and there is bound to be humor. I can remember one
winter, when the neighborhood kids were not so happy with my Golden
Retriever. My Katie Bear, she is not with me anymore, got loose.
And, full speed ahead, she ran down the street, into the front yard
of a home day care centre. There she spotted a snowman, grabbed the
carrot nose, and ran back home with it. These are the times when I
should have had my camera. The little ones were not impressed at
all, they cried “The dog took the snowman’s nose,” “Our snowman
doesn’t have a nose anymore.”
That very same Katie, while we
were visiting with our senior friends, very quietly stuck her head
deep into one senior’s purse and stole her muffin. That senior was
not impressed either. “Your dog stole my muffin” she yelled, shaking
her finger at me.
Ah, those golden moments.
My name is Sonja-Ruth Bird and I am the owner
of 3 dogs, Dukie, Benny and Nikki. Benny and Nikki are Therapy
Visiting dogs, and Dukie is blind. I have been married for 27 years
to my husband, Chris. Chris has been battling the monster, MS, for a
number of years. People and Pet Health Care are my passions. Come
and see my dogs, or contact me here http://www.mimfreedom.com
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