April 30th is National Therapy Animal Day. In our house, every day is Therapy Animal Day.
ELBEE As well it should be.
Even though I’ve been fortunate enough to work with the dogs for so long, a very personal note from Pet Partners, our organization for certification, really brought it home to me. It was a thank you for a donation I’d made recently after Gus and Henry did their evaluations.
The woman wrote about my being dedicated to the human-animal bond for seventeen years. She also mentioned Charley, Elbee, Gus, Stanley and Henry by name. I was overwhelmed with memories.
I will never forget the schizophrenic little girl, who, after a very difficult episode, hugged Charley and told him she loved him. Then there was the man who came out of a months long coma to say that the only thing he remembered was the presence of the dogs on his bed. I can still picture the very young, very sick boy petting Gus and saying in the sweetest voice, “This is the greatest day ever.”
Last week at Tarzana Hospital, Stanley had two interactions that were so quietly meaningful. A woman in severe pain had requested a dog visit. Stanley leaned very gently against her as we chatted. All of a sudden, with a surprised look on her face, she said, “This is the first time in three days that I haven’t been in pain.”
We walked into another room where an elderly woman, sitting in a chair, took one look at Stanley and said, “What a beautiful dog.” She told me that she was a total dog lover but because of her age and health issues hadn’t been able to have one of her own for years.
Then, with tears in her eyes, she shared that Stanley was the first dog she’d petted since COVID! She added how upset she’d been that her hospital stay had been extended but thought maybe it was so she could be there to meet Stanley.
Happy therapy animal day to the Doods and all of their canine “colleagues.” I am grateful for the joy and privilege of seeing you work your magic as you share your unconditional love.
