Dec. 2019
This week, Gus met up with his “cousins” Tommy and Finley for a special visit at UCLA. Their person Donna and I have often worked the three together with great success. Wednesday was no exception.
Recently the staff in one of the medical office suites experienced a traumatic event and called on the dogs for help. A co-worker had suddenly lost consciousness and collapsed at her desk. Despite great effort on their part, she was admitted to the ICU where she is still a patient.
Her friends and colleagues, having extreme difficulty coping, reached out to the People Animal Connection, hoping that the dogs could provide some much needed support.
Donna and I had no idea what to expect but as usual the dogs knew just what to do. From the moment that Tommy, Finley and Gus walked in they worked their magic. They were sweet and loving with no expectations.
Group after group gathered around them in corridors and at work stations. People were smiling, laughing and hugging the dogs. Everyone had their phones out for photos. Some were sharing pictures of their own dogs. For a brief time, they were able to escape from their grief and anxiety.
Someone knocked on a doctor’s office door to 
see if he might like a visit. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone’s face light up so quickly at the sight of the dogs. With a huge smile, he immediately lay down on the floor with them. He was the personification of the joy of pet therapy.
Sorry to break the mood but I have to be totally honest. The morning didn’t go without a slight hitch. When we were taking our three little heroes out for a potty break, Gus peed on Tommy.
GUS It was a complete accident. I can’t believe she shared that.
ELBEE Talk about taking a left turn into inappropriate.
