Ellen Morrow – Page 9 – Me and the Doods.com

A Moment in the Park

I was going to write something much lighter this week but then I had an experience with Henry that almost moved me to tears. We were at a neighborhood park for his obedience class but what he did goes far beyond your basic sit and stay.

After beginning class in a small area of the park, we were working on loose leash walking around the playground and the basketball court. Suddenly, Henry started to pull toward a tall, slim casually dressed young man who had an impressive head of curly, shoulder-length dark hair.

The man, who was standing in the shade by the bleachers with a few other people, smiled when he saw Henry coming toward him. On a constant mission to socialize Henry and totally breaking class protocol, I asked if Henry could say hello to him. He answered “of course” and began petting him. We chatted for a bit, I even complimented his plaid tennis shoes, and then I went to catch up with the class.

About five minutes later, I was surprised to see the man standing right next to us. As I turned to him, he quietly said that he wanted to tell me how much the interaction with Henry had meant to him. He was so earnest and sincere, I forgot that I was at an obedience class in the middle of a park.

Without elaborating, he told me that he was at a low point in his life and really struggling. When Henry came over it was as if a weight had been lifted off of him for a few moments. I could tell how desperately he wanted me to understand. Before he headed back to his spot by the bleachers, he shared that nothing like that had ever happened to him with a dog.

At the end of class, I walked over to say goodbye and to let him pet Henry again. He thanked me profusely. He felt as if the universe had reached out to him. I was so deeply touched by his expression of gratitude. Because of the presence of a dog, this man had opened up to a stranger and felt comforted.

This morning, by coincidence, I picked up a packet of Truvia sweetener that read, “Be the reason that someone smiles today.” Henry you were that reason. Thank you!

Adventure Awaits but Hazards Exist (Are the Mountains Yellow Tagged?)

ELBEE OMG she stole that title off an article in the newspaper.

Elbee’s right for once.

ELBEE For once? Please.

The recent front page article, “Adventure Awaits but Hazards Exist,” warned about the dangers of hiking as the weather heats up. My first thought was, “I hope none of my daughters sees this.” They’re not thrilled when I hike alone or with the dogs even under ideal conditions.

The writer touched on some things like bears and sickened birds and dead rabbits that I’ve never encountered as far as I know. Others struck closer to home.

Rattlesnakes, for instance, were featured as a major hot weather hazard. After being dormant in the winter, they’re out hunting and enjoying the sun. In my defense, it’s been years since that sneaky rattlesnake bit me on the ankle. Not to mention that a neighbor had a rattlesnake in her kitchen.

In an interesting aside, I found out that there’s a rattlesnake aversion class. Unfortunately, after familiarizing the dogs with an enclosed snake, they give them an electric shock so they’ll have a negative association. I was shocked when I heard that!

ELBEE Me too!

Then there are the ticks. I treat the dogs every month to keep them away but I found one on my side recently. I admit I was grossed out even though I pulled it off before it had done any damage.

ELBEE I have an idea. Frontline for humans!

The poison oak is very lush and pretty right now. I know some areas where it’s flourishing and try to be helpful by pointing it out to fellow hikers so they can avoid it.

ELBEE Strange that she had a terrible rash a few weeks ago that she claimed was an “allergy.”

Even though I’ve been taking Henry hiking with me since he was four months old, I don’t take a chance in the heat. I’m more cautious with the dogs than with myself.

Friday morning was a gift. It was cool and overcast, a break from the heat. I snapped on Henry’s leash and headed for the hills. I had to leave Gus and Stanley at home because their long hair attracts every foxtail and burr.

GUS & STANLEY The price of being fabulous.

Henry and I had a great hike. All of the regulars were so happy to be up there. We greeted each other like old friends. Some were meeting Henry for the first time.

As so often happens, as we were walking, I had a strange thought. It’s as if the mountains are temporarily yellow-tagged. You enter at your own risk and have to watch out for potential hazards. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a small price to pay for being in my happy place.

ELBEE Where does she come up with this stuff?

Lights, Camera, Nostalgia

On Tuesday, Stanley and Gus had their photo shoot for the UCLA calendar, a tradition that I have really come to cherish. During COVID, following protocol, the pictures were taken outside. This year we were back on the B level of the hospital, the same area where Charley and Elbee posed for photos years ago.

The theme of the this year’s calendar was the Olympics with Gus and Stanley looking fabulous in their tennis wear. In 2021, when it was a takeoff on movie titles, Gus was a bride and Stanley a groom for “Man’s Best Friend’s Wedding.

ELBEE I would have made a beautiful bride.

For the 2023 calendar shoot, not only were we back in the regular place, but as always, Juliane, the long time photographer, was there to work her magic. Charley, Elbee, Gus and Stanley have all been in her lens.

To make it even more nostalgic, the dogs were dressed as doctors and nurses, just as they have been in the past. Putting Gus and Stanley in their medical gear felt very familiar.

This cover photo is a special part of the People Animal Connection history. It includes some PAC dogs who are no longer with us but whose amazing work will never be forgotten. Charley and Elbee are in the back row on the right.

ELBEE I’m a PAC icon.

What made the afternoon even more fun was the appreciative audience. So many people who were at the scattered tables, working on laptops or eating lunch, had their phones out to capture the dogs in costume. There was lots of laughter as they watched the dogs posing in their outfits. One doctor even asked to take a photo with them.

The next morning when I went back to UCLA with Stanley to visit our regular neuropsych units, he had a very special moment with the teens. As we were gathered in the day room, some of the kids suggested bringing in one particular boy who had severe issues but loved dogs.

A few minutes later, his one-on-one aid brought him in to join us. He had very awkward movement and I believe was severely autistic. He was also non-verbal. Two things immediately stuck me as he stood by the doorway. One was the joy on his face as soon as he saw Stanley. The other was the kindness of the kids in the group. They were so encouraging when he tried to pet Stanley and in almost a whisper said a few words like “soft” and “nice dog.”

Watching his interactions with Stanley really made me think. Dressing the dogs like doctors and nurses for the calendar is lighthearted fun. Yet they all possess such healing spirits.

Don’t Judge

The other morning, Henry and I were walking on a tree lined street that borders a golf course. An older woman, a little ways ahead of us, suddenly stopped and glanced back. A moment later, she picked up what I assumed was a rock and crossed the street with it in her hand. I thought what a negative reaction.

ELBEE That’s not all she thought.

It turns out that what she had picked up was a golf ball. She took it over to a man sitting on a low wall on the other side of the street. He’s kind of a neighborhood fixture who makes a little extra money by selling the balls to players who ride by on their carts. I’ve seen him in the same spot on countless weekends. Although I’ve said an occasional hello, I have never thought to pick up a golf ball for him.

After doing her good deed, the woman came back over to say hello. When I introduced her to Henry she smiled and began petting him. As we chatted, of course I shared about Gus and Stanley and the work they do.

ELBEE Is anyone surprised?

It turns out that she had volunteered at the Jewish Home for the Aged and had seen therapy dogs at work. She totally believed in their power to comfort and heal. I had been so wrong about her.

ELBEE You think?

On another day I was walking with Gus and Stanley in a different neighborhood. I get bored with the same routine so I like to explore. It started to get warm so I headed down a side street that had a lot more shade.

Suddenly, a small house stopped me in my tracks. It had way too much going on. There were sculptures, plants hanging from trees, wind chimes, pinwheels, dreamcatchers, symbols for every religion. There didn’t seem to be an empty spot. In other words it was ungapatchka

ELBEE For those of you who aren’t familiar with the word, it’s a Yiddish expression for ridiculously over-decorated.

As I was standing there judging, the nicest man came over to say hello. The yard was his pride and joy. He told me that he’d been working on it for twenty years. It was his gift to children and pets.

An animal lover, he was completely taken with Gus and Stanley. He even suggested a photo with them. He was so kind and jovial, I felt as if I’d been passing judgement on Santa Claus and his place in the North Pole.

Celebrate Love & Kindness

On Wednesday, driving to UCLA, I was still reeling from the unspeakable tragedy in Texas. I was also concerned about the kids in neuropsych whom Gus was going to be visiting. Fortunately, when we arrived, I found out that they had been temporarily sheltered from the news.

It turned out to be a beautiful morning with Gus. He was at the top of his game, literally smiling and showing off his tiny teeth as he rolled over for belly rubs. The kids under twelve were as happy as Gus. It was as if they were feeding off of each others’ energy.

The teens were equally engaged, fun and enthusiastic. They shared stories about their dogs and asked how to teach them tricks. But looking into their eyes as we chatted on the outside deck, I worried. Many of them are emotionally fragile so I couldn’t imagine how they would process the news, even with the help of the therapists.

Two of my grandchildren are teenagers so the next day I asked my daughter how they were handling it. She said that, of course, they were sad and upset but they weren’t shocked. Their school has “active shooter” drills. When I was growing up in Syracuse, all we had was the occasional fire drill.

Fortuitously, after leaving our units we headed outside to help celebrate Unity and Kindness Day. It was a UCLA Health event being held in conjunction with Nurses’ Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. A few of the People Animal Connection dogs and a miniature horse were perfect additions to the festivities.

Health care workers were selecting random acts of kindness or writing customized messages on pieces of paper to hang on a golden ring. It was to showcase their good intentions in the coming days. A chaplain quieted the crowd to speak movingly about what is going on in the world. Then he asked for a moment of silence.

As I sat down at my computer today, I wanted to write something positive and respectful, almost like another moment of silence. I hoped that a feel good post would bring some comfort without trivializing the senseless loss of life. We need to reach out to each other with love and kindness, in the hope that we will find unity.

Happy Birthday Stanley & Henry

This was a big week for the Doods. Henry turned one on the 16th and Stanley will be turning four tomorrow, on the 23rd. I have friends who celebrate their dogs’ birthdays by buying them In-N-Out Burger, serving them doggie cakes or arranging parties at the park.

I didn’t go quite that far, but I did hang a banner and put them in festive accessories.

ELBEE She forgot to mention that she took Henry to be neutered and to have a cyst removed from his tail! Happy birthday!

I confess. You may have noticed that he’s wearing an e-collar with his tiara and sunglasses.

I was a nervous wreck when I took Henry in for his surgery but he handled it like a trooper. He was raring to go when I picked him up the next morning and yes, he was wearing the e-collar or, as some call it, “the cone of shame.”

ELBEE It’s actually an Elizabethan collar named after ruffs worn by wealthy English landholders during that era. Hey, I dabble in history.

Surprisingly, Henry didn’t have a problem with it. It was almost as if he forgot he had it on. He just wanted a little extra attention. Unfortunately, he was bumping into doorways and chairs and into me and my husband. We have the bruises to prove it.

As a backup, in case there were problems, I had bought a ZenCollar, an alternative to the “satellite dish.” It’s made out of fabric and is inflatable.

The label said it would protect your pet as well as “shins, furniture and walls.” It would also restore “doggy dignity.”

Even though Henry was doing fine in the e-collar, after a few days of recovery, I thought he’d be more comfortable in the Zen version. It took him a few tries to figure out how to lay down with it on but then he looked positively relaxed.

Since the collar seemed to be working so well for Henry, I wondered why not give it a try. Couldn’t hurt and might work for me too. I mean who doesn’t want to find their Zen.

ELBEE I’m embarrassed for her.

More Special Moments

This week was all dog all the time. They had more activities than my daughters did when they were little. Looking back it seems like a blur of fur and wagging tails, but then, as always, there were moments that stood out.

Stanley visited the neuropsych units at UCLA. On our way in to see the teens, I heard one of the therapists say, almost to herself, “They’re all so depressed. I hope the dog can do something.” Glancing into the day room, I saw what she meant.

Miraculously, as we walked in, I could feel the mood shift. Most of the kids dropped down on the floor with us. Even the few who stayed at the tables were watching. At first they just quietly petted Stanley but as he lightly put his paws on them and went in for belly rubs, they started warming up.

When he did a few tricks, they really got involved. And no one could resist the accessories. They laughed at the purple sunglasses and the tiaras. It relaxed them enough that they began chatting, telling me about their dogs, sharing stories.

I confess, I also used a photo that I knew would get their attention, the one of me lifting Stanley. Two of the boys immediately said, “You’re bench pressing him!”

ELBEE She can’t help herself. It was cheesy but it worked.

The next day I brought Gus to UCLA for a nurse appreciation meeting but his moment was in the lobby. A patient’s family was sitting on a bench outside of Maddie’s Room. As soon as they saw Gus, two of the men grinned and waved us over.

GUS I was looking particularly fluffy and fabulous.

Knowing how difficult it can be for family and friends who are waiting for word about loved ones, I had Gus do a few tricks to distract them.

When he did his special dance, one of the men stood up, began singing and dancing with him. It was one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen. They lit up the lobby.

This photo was another moment. I took it at the “spa” right after they’d been bathed. Jen, the wonderful groomer who pampers the Doods, wrapped them up in a heart. What could be more perfect!

Gratitude Remembered

At UCLA, Gus and Stanley spend the majority of time working with groups of all ages in the neuropsych units. Since returning to Tarzana Hospital a few months ago, our visits have been focused on the staff, many of whom are still dealing with the emotional toll of COVID.

Last week, Gus went back to doing individual room visits at Tarzana. I had almost forgotten what it was like to knock on a door and watch a patient’s face light up at seeing him standing there.

ELBEE One time when she knocked and asked if the patient would like a visit, the patient looked at her and said, “Not really.” The she saw me, smiled and said, “Please, come in.”

As soon as I put Gus on a patient’s bed, there was an instant personal connection. We had easy conversation while they cuddled with him.

A woman who worked from home told me that friends and family were always dropping off their dogs for her to watch so she usually had several at once. Gus was just what she needed. A woman who did animal rescue was eager to share stories. An elderly patient confided that she liked dogs more than people.

ELBEE That is a wise woman.

We went in to see a little boy around three years old. For a moment he was a bit shy but as soon as Gus waved and did his little dance he started giggling. He was delighted when his parents said it was okay to put Gus on the bed. They seemed so relieved at the distraction while they happily showed me videos of their Labradoodles.

Because it had been awhile, I was overwhelmed with gratitude at watching Gus do his up close magic. He helped patients forget their pain and their anxiety. He made the hospital rooms disappear. A woman in the cardiac unit summed it up when she said “He makes my heart feel better.”

Coincidentally, it was Patient Experience Week, a time to celebrate how the health care staff impacts patient experience. Gus, Stanley and all of their fellow therapy dogs may not technically be staff, but they are definitely health care workers at their finest.

Adventures With Henry

This morning, I headed up a steep trail with Henry, enjoying the challenge and the beauty of the mountains, especially with the wildflowers still in their full glory. Near the top, I met two women sitting on the trail. I asked if everything was okay and one answered that she was just waiting. I assumed she meant resting. Turns out I was wrong.

A few minutes later a red helicopter started circling. I assumed it was doing routine fire patrol. I was wrong again.

It began flying lower and lower in tight circles. Eventually the door opened and someone rappelled out the side. Other rescue workers suddenly materialized out of nowhere.

I found out from one of the women whom I’d met coming up that the other woman had broken her leg and called for help. She added that the injured woman was 58 so her bones were pretty brittle. I didn’t share my age!

Henry and I were standing on an overlook with a few other people while all of the chaos was going on. We were afraid to move and get in the way. After quite some time, it seemed that everything was under control. I believe they brought an ambulance up dirt Mulholland, a drivable area, to transport the woman down.

But let me tell you, the wind from a hovering helicopter is like a tornado. We were getting pelted by pebbles and my sunglasses blew off my face and into the canyon below.

ELBEE Good thing she buys cheap ones because she always loses them.

On the bright side it was great training for Henry. I couldn’t have thought of a better way to desensitize him to loud noises.

Our other adventure this week was much lower key. We were walking on dirt Mulholland when a woman called out, “Aren’t you part of the PAC program?” Surprised, I told her that I was.

ELBEE She never would have recognized her if she’d been alone.

It turned out she was an ICU nurse at UCLA who loved the People Animal Connection. She knew Stanley and Gus plus thought she had met Charley years ago. She asked me about Henry who was being so sweet with her.

As soon as I told her that he was an eleven month old puppy in training, she couldn’t wait to call her friend, a PICU nurse at the hospital. While they were talking she decided to FaceTime so that her friend could see him too.

After she finished the call and was getting ready to leave, she took a moment to tell me how much it meant to the staff to have the dogs back in the hospital. She said they were truly helping everyone cope with the ongoing stress of COVID.

It was such a random but heartwarming encounter. The dogs continue to bring so much unexpected light into my life.

There’s Something About Henry

ELBEE I almost didn’t comment about her stealing another movie title but I couldn’t help myself.

When we met Henry last summer, I knew that life was going to be different. I just didn’t know how different. Bringing a new dog into the pack always makes things more interesting. Bringing in a Great Pyrenees/Standard Poodle mix makes it even more interesting than I could have imagined.

Now at eleven months and eighty pounds, it’s hard for me to remember him as that tiny puppy who slept in his crate and chased Gus around the yard. I kind of forget his size until we’re out for a walk and someone reminds me.

I’ve heard a range of comments from, “Why don’t you put a saddle on him?” to “He’s really nice, he looks like he should be meaner.” Yesterday someone remarked, “He’s so big and you’re so small. Good thing he’s well behaved.”

ELBEE Trust me. He’s not that well behaved. It was a moment.

At Petco, a sales girl, helping me find a harness for Henry, fell in love with him.

ELBEE Mr. Perfect still pulls on the leash.

And wouldn’t you know it, her boyfriend’s name was Henry. When we got in line to pay, to everyone’s delight, the woman behind us had a Golden Doodle in a cart who looked like an adorable mini version of Henry with white hair and big tan spots. The salesgirl, who was now the cashier, said, “This is my best day ever working here.”

Yesterday, I was picking up food at CPK and had Henry in the back seat.

ELBEE Apparently, someone still isn’t cooking.

As the waitress brought my order to the car, Henry stuck his big head out the window. She immediately started laughing and petting him and didn’t want to go back inside.

Even the police like Henry. We were on a busy neighborhood street that has a lot of blind curves. An officer was across the road on his motorcycle, doing security for a film site. When he saw Henry, his face lit up and he waved.

Always on a mission to socialize Henry and get him used to new things, I figured the uniform and the mortorcycle would be great practice so I threw caution to the wind and ran over. When I had to cross back, I realized just how busy the street was. The officer, very kind and concerned, stopped traffic and led us over safely. Technically, Henry and I had our first police escort.

ELBEE Seriously?