Jack Barron was part of my therapy dog journey before we’d even met.When Charley was a puppy, I read a newspaper article about Jack and the UCLA People Animal Connection. Coincidentally, a short time later, a woman at the vet commented on Charley’s temperament and called me with the number of the program.
A few months later, I went to a Pet Partners workshop, and there was none other than Jack teaching. Listening to his stories and hearing his passion for therapy dogs, I was hooked. I doubled down my efforts on training and socializing Charley, getting him ready for testing. On the day that I finally walked into UCLA Medical Center with the gentle giant at my side, Jack was there to guide us.
When Elbee came along I had a virus and was housebound. Unfortunately, I couldn’t socialize him and desensitize him to different environments so he became a little fearful. At the times when I was about to give up, Jack was one of the people who wouldn’t let me quit.
ELBEE That would have been tragic.
He also brought Gus into my life. He called one evening to say that Gina, a trainer friend of his was looking for a home for a Doodle puppy with a therapy dog temperament. One meeting with Gus and I was in love.
The family who had to give him up, only asked that he have a good life. As Gus has gone on to do extraordinary and exciting things (I mean how many dogs meet two Dodger pitchers), I am grateful that Jack helped Gus find his way into my heart.
Jack and his wife moved out of state some time before Stanley had even arrived. Since he’d been so instrumental with the other two, I kind of wanted his seal of approval. He was in town on business recently so it was the perfect opportunity for them to get to know each other. I also thought the “puppy” might cheer Jack up because he’d been through a rough patch.
Several months ago, Jack had pulled out all the stops to help Shane, his magnificent Labrador Retriever, fight nasal cancer. After surgery to remove his nose, Shane was recovering so well that Jack was planning to take him into the hospital to help people with facial deformities. Sadly, before that could happen, Shane succumbed to another form of cancer.
The Jack and Stanley meeting could not have gone better. Stanley was showing off his best behavior. He was so good that people walking by didn’t notice that there was a huge dog sitting by our feet. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, Stanley did the Charley “lean” against Jack. It sealed the deal.
In a sad twist of fate, we lost Elbee shortly after. How special that my mentor was able to say hello to the new generation as we said goodbye to the old.
