Therapy Dogs, Always on Call

I was never the most graceful kid on the block. As a matter of fact some people have referred to me as a klutz.

ELBEE Let’s see. Among other things, she tore her hamstring sort of running, broke her foot walking, and gave herself a black eye in “remedial” gymnastics. And lets not forget the dislocated shoulder in yoga.

STANLEY Is that possible? I’m canceling puppy yoga.

A few days ago when I was walking Elbee and Gus, I bumped into a large concrete thing sticking out of the sidewalk and tore a huge piece of skin off my leg. I think it’s because I was paying more attention to the dogs than to where I was going.

ELBEE AND GUS We are totally innocent.

I knew that a simple bandaid wasn’t going to cut it, so I called the husband who, fortunately, happened to be working in a wound care clinic that day. Not surprised at all, knowing my history, he told me to come on down. I was halfway there when he texted me to bring Gus. A few of the patients wanted to meet him. With blood dripping down my leg, I went home to get him.

ELBEE She’s being overly dramatic.

As I limped into the waiting room, everyone practically broke into applause at the sight of Gus. An older couple in particular was delighted. They had wanted to see him for quite some time and had even been planning to come down to one of his demos at the Science Center.

We finally made it past his fans and into a treatment room. I was lying on a table when Terry, one of the nurses, came in to take care of me. Gus, who had been sitting quietly on the floor, suddenly stood up and put his legs on the edge of the table. He refused to move until Terry picked him and put him next to me.

As Terry, and then the husband, cleaned and dressed the wound, Gus stayed cuddled by my side. It was as if he knew it was his job to help me deal with the pain, okay it was only a little discomfort.

When we were leaving, there was a very handsome young man sitting in the waiting room. His face lit up as he asked me to bring the dog over to him. I could tell that he had some issues, but he was completely at ease petting Gus. After a few moments, he looked up at me and said, “Thank you. That just made my day.” When I hear those words, it always makes my day.

P.S. Stanley is obviously not an official working dog but this week, like Gus, he was my personal therapy dog. Aside from the whole leg thing, I had either the plague or some sort of cold that refused to go away. Stanley made it his business to comfort me.

ELBEE Some of you may be saying, “Aww.” I’m going with drama queen!

 

The Goofy Giant

Spring has officially arrived. I had my first up close and personal rattlesnake encounter of the season. I was coming down a trail when an obviously scared surfer dude (I’m judging) on his way up, pointed out a snake that was coiled up and rattling in the brush. Fortunately, I had no dogs with me, just my trusty stick.

He was ready to turn around and sprint down the trail. I convinced him to wait it out. Sure enough, a few minutes later the snake left and we both ran past it. I’m still not a fan, but I’m no longer terrified by them. The surfer dude is.

On the bright side, thanks to the rains, the display of wild flowers in the Santa Monica mountains is magnificent. It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with them. The hillsides look as if they’ve been painted purple and yellow and blue. My words and my cell phone photos don’t do them justice.

I’ve been taking Stanley with me quite a bit, on wide trails with no hiding snakes. He’s the logical choice since Gus, with his long hair is like velcro. Fox tails and everything else stick to him. And Elbee is getting a little older.

ELBEE Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black?

 

 

 

Hiking with Stanley brings back so many memories of the hours of freedom that I spent in the mountains with Charley. He was always so calm and at one with nature. Charley was the true gentle giant,

Stanley, on the other hand, thinks that he can catch every leaf that blows by or every bird that flies low or is dumb enough to land near him. He loves people to a fault and would like to take off with every runner and bike rider who goes by. He is the true goofy giant.

I’ve noticed something interesting about him. Stanley has this weird thing about responding to energy. Note to the daughters: I am not crazy.

ELBEE Note to the daughters: yes she is.

When we run into children or someone with a higher energy level, Stanley acts like a lunatic and practically cries. On the other hand, if he’s approached by someone with a calm demeanor, he’s like a pussy cat.

Take the other morning for example. I stopped to talk to a young couple, siting by their car, getting ready to go hiking. The man was a laid back dog person who especially liked bigger dogs. Before I knew it, there was Stanley sprawled in his lap.

He is just as goofy at home, prancing around on his long legs, plopping down for belly rubs, spinning around like Elbee and Gus. But he has a new behavior that may be the funniest.

Hard as it is to believe, this cute little ball of fur who moved in about eight months ago is now the great big pup who constantly spies on the neighbors!

 

Gus Loves an Audience

This weekend, Gus made a triumphant return to the California Science Center.

ELBEE Can you say hyperbole? He did a demonstration. And no, this is not sour grapes.

Yes, Gus, representing the People Animal Connection and Pet Partners, did his first demo at the Science Tail exhibit. At the Discovery Ball he was a meeter and greeter. Yesterday he was a teacher. Unlike the agility dogs, service dogs and fly ball dogs who put on active displays, Gus and his fellow therapy dogs are there to show people about unconditional love.

From the moment we walked into the lobby, the dog charged atmosphere was buzzing with happiness, fun and excitement. I ran into an amazing therapist  whom Charley, Elbee and Gus had all worked with at UCLA Medical Center. She’d brought her dog loving daughters to the exhibit. As we chatted, so many people came up to say hello to Gus, calling him cloud, marshmallow and fluff ball.

Even a security guard came over to pet him. He shared how badly he wanted a dog but felt that with his busy schedule it would be like leaving his “son” alone all day. When I told him I respected his attitude and how much time I spent with my three dogs, he heartily approved and said “those are your three sons.”

ELBEE Wait until the daughters get a load of that one.

When it was time for our presentation, we were escorted upstairs to an enclosed area where a crowd was gathered around a fence.

ELBEE Sorry but that reminds me of the daughters again. When the oldest heard they’d be presenting in an enclosed area with people watching, she commented, “Oh, like the zoo.”

After we were introduced I spoke for a few minutes, mainly gearing my remarks and questions to the children in the group. It was interesting to see how few of the kids or their parents knew the difference between service dogs and therapy dogs. After briefly explaining what therapy dogs do, I shared a few stories that really seemed to resonate.

We all know that they were there to see Gus not to hear me, so next I let Gus perform. He was at the top of his game. Give the dog an audience and his inner diva takes over. He almost started going through his repertoire of tricks on his own.

The last part of our visit was the best. It truly spoke to the heart of what our dogs can do. The staff from the Science Center stood by the gate and let a few people in at a time to interact with Gus. Smiling parents came in to take pictures of their delighted children. One very happy grandma spent a few special moments with Gus.

 

 

 

 

Even knowing Gus’s temperament, I was impressed with how he handled it all. He was gentle. He was sweet. He rolled over for belly rubs. What impressed me even more was how patiently people waited. No one complained or walked away. When it was their turn to meet him and chat for a few moments, all I saw were more smiles. All I heard were kind words.

 

March Madness

They could have used us

 

Although I am a huge fan, this title doesn’t refer to the college basketball tournament. This year, some of my top teams were out early but Buffalo, my husband’s alma mater, and UC Irvine made it further than expected. It was very exciting until yesterday when they both lost.

March is always my crazy emotional month. It’s like the mix of winter and spring, the rain and the wildflowers. It’s a time of special remembrance, of sadness and of new beginnings. My dad died on a March morning when I was a senior in high school. Charley passed two years ago this month but Elbee and Gus celebrated March birthdays.

ELBEE I’m afraid to see where this is going.

There were so many ups and downs this month. First we had the bees and our land line was out. Then my cell phone went rogue. It didn’t just break. It locked, never to be opened again, taking everything with it except about 400 text messages. Go figure.

I bought a new phone and two new chargers. I say two because Stanley has a  thing for chargers. He chewed the first one. Speaking of Stanley, we had him neutered this month.

ELBEE Is nothing off limits? And let me add, you should see her trying to figure out the new phone! Talk about sad.

Dropping Stanley off for surgery was as stressful as if it was one of the daughters. He has become such a huge presence in the house that it was strangely quiet with him gone overnight. His namesake, my late brother, was also a huge presence. His birthday was March 3rd so this time of year I miss his generous laugh more than ever.

There was only one problem with Stanley’s recovery…the protective collar he had to wear. It’s like a satellite dish. He bumped into everyone and everything in the house. I’m happy to report that, although the husband and I have a few left over bruises, he’s doing great.

This March there was an also an unexpected gift from nature that really lifted my spirits. Millions of orange, painted lady butterflies were migrating from the deserts near the Mexican border to the Pacific Northwest.

They were everywhere for days, in the mountains, on the streets. Sometimes there seemed to be clouds of butterflies overhead. At other times they would flutter around randomly. They were so peaceful and beautiful. Everyone was transfixed. Strangers were actually talking to each other about them.

I found these photos on line. I would have shared the fabulous ones I took but remember my cell phone ate them.

ELBEE Trust me, these are better.

 

 

 

Gus Does Cocktails…Again

This week, Dogs! A Science Tail opened at the California Science Center. It’s an interactive exhibit that explores the unique bond between humans and dogs. It just screams my name. Not sure how it happened, but I was fortunate enough to be contacted when they were in the planning stages.

ELBEE My reputation precedes her.

To make it even better, Gus and I were asked to take part in the Discovery Ball, a black tie gala that’s the annual fundraiser for the center. This year the theme, of course, was dogs. The guests, in their gowns and tuxes, saw K-9 units and search and rescue teams as they arrived.

As they entered the building, there was a green carpet for photos and an incredible wall with dog puppets handing out champagne. Then there was Gus to meet and greet everyone!

The dog can work a room. Gus used to be the sweet, quiet one. Although he is still sweet, he has totally embraced his inner diva. He danced. He offered up tricks on his own. His tail never stopped wagging and I swear he had a smile on his face.

Several people asked if it was okay to pet him. They were delighted when I assured them it was his job and he might take it personally if they didn’t. When I added that this wasn’t his first cocktail party, they laughed and said, “I can see that.”

ELBEE He’s starting to make me look humble. 

It struck me that the contrast in dogs in the arrival space so beautifully illustrated a main theme of the exhibit. From police dogs, to service dogs, to sporting dogs, they interact with us in such different ways. Some you may not touch while they’re working. Others work to be petted. Either way, the strong human/canine bonds of trust, understanding and communication are always there.

On another note, the husband was with me for the evening as my “assistant.” Since he was in a suit and a dress shirt rather than a tux, watching from the edge of the crowd, people assumed that he was security.

ELBEE I would have paid to see that.

Up until that evening, he had only seen Gus as a dog, cute and loving, but just a dog.

THE DOODS Just a dog??

Over the years, he’s had slight peeks at what Gus can do but he’s never had the chance to see him in this kind of setting. He was used to the dog who quietly cuddles with us at home or sits on his ottoman “throne” barking at people who walk by the house. He has never seen Gus captivating an elegant but very appreciative crowd. In the husband’s words, he was “delighted, impressed, and mesmerized.”

This photo of Gus relaxing the next day says it all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hiking with a Coyote

This may be one of my dumbest posts ever in terms of judgment and subject matter but at the time it seemed brilliant. The daughters would definitely disagree with the latter part of that statement. I was taking one of my mental health hikes to put day to day stress in perspective. Among other things, Stanley was being neutered, the phone line in the house was down and we’d found a huge beehive under the roof.

It was an absolutely spectacular morning. The air was clean and clear after the rain. The spring wildflowers were starting to bloom. The views were breathtaking. I had made it up a steep trail and was on a plateau above dirt Mulholland when I saw what I thought was a dog off leash or maybe one that had gotten lost in the mountains. As I got closer, I realized it was a coyote.

GUS Coyotes off leash! I’m never hiking again.

I’m not trying to minimize what a huge problem they are in the neighborhood, especially for those of us with dogs, but I had to remember that I was in his or her territory. Actually, since it was International Women’s Day this week I’m going with “her.”

She walked along maybe ten feet from me. If I waved my trusty stick or talked to her, she’d move further away or disappear.

ELBEE OMG she thinks she’s the coyote whisperer!

Then, a few moments later, she’d pop up again. This may seem odd, but it was the calmest most natural interaction. She even yawned once or twice. I felt no fear at all, simply curiosity and in a way, lucky to be experiencing that moment in nature.

ELBEE That’s it. I’m calling the daughters. They’re right. She’s “cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.”

We continued like that for about half an hour, with her appearing and disappearing. I have no idea how long it might have continued if a bike rider hadn’t come up the trail, followed by a hiker. Both of them stopped because they didn’t want to scare her off either. It still must have been too much because she ran off into the mountains.

ELBEE How many crazy people are up there hiking and biking?

The daughters would find so many things wrong with this whole adventure. They don’t even like it when I go hiking with the dogs, let alone a coyote.

ELBEE Let me add that just because I’m unavailable to hike (keeping my hair fabulous for hospital visits) doesn’t mean that she should be hanging out with my mortal enemy.

In my defense, I never tried to take a selfie with her.

ElBEE I rest my case.

 

 

Positivity

Recently, driving down Ventura Boulevard in Encino, I saw a large red and white billboard that simply said LOVE. I was so intrigued that I went home and did some extensive research to find out more about it.

ELBEE She googled it.

I learned that John Pogachar, a life and health coach, had launched a “Love On Every Billboard” movement to spread more of that “powerful word in our world. No agenda. Just Love.” The one in Encino was the first in California.

It inspired me to focus on more of the positives this week. I’m talking about the little moments that we may overlook, the moments of kindness and consideration that we should never take for granted.

ELBEE Oh no. I feel another something out of nothing post coming on.

STANLEY I’m just glad she’s not writing about me repeating intermediate obedience was her idea, not mine.

For instance, I was walking Stanley when a chihuahua with a big man complex started barking and lunging at him.

ELBEE Excuse me, that’s a positive?

In the chaos of getting her dog under control, the owner didn’t realize that she’d dropped her pink wallet. Shortly after she’d walked away, a couple, coming up behind us, saw it on the sidewalk and asked if it was mine. When I told them that I thought it belonged to the woman up ahead, the man ran after her to return it.

The other afternoon, as I was coming down from a long hike with Stanley,  I ran into Lou, one of our mountain buddies. He waved as he was getting into his car. A few minutes later as Lou was driving by, Stanley, apparently not in the mood to walk to my car, plopped down on the ground and refused to move. Before I knew it, Lou turned his car around and stopped to ask if we needed a ride down. I don’t even know his last name but he went out of his way to see if he could help.

Tuesday, waiting for a friend to go hiking. I was standing at a dog park that’s adjacent to a trailhead.

THE DOODS And hopefully feeling guilty because we were all home.

Suddenly, an older man walked over, smiled, and without a word, handed me a yellow wildflower. Then he walked away with his dog. It was such a quiet, unexpected gesture.

This morning I went to a celebration of life for “mayor” Bruce, the incredible character from the gym who passed away recently. Bruce, like my friend Roberta who passed on New Years Day, lived life to the fullest with love and joy. They both welcomed challenges and refused to give in to negativity. To them, no meant yes. I will look to them and to the simple message on the billboard for inspiration.

 

 

Disorder in the Pack

Since Riley, our sweet Golden, passed, there has been a competition for pack leader. He was the quiet senior, the voice of reason. Charley before him was the gentle giant. Now the job should fall to Elbee, who thankfully has matured. Unfortunately for Elbee, Stanley and Gus are giving him a run for the money.

ELBEE What am I? The “spare heir?” I understand how Prince Harry feels.

It’s obvious that Gus with his long hair, cuteness factor and celebrity encounters has become quite a diva. He doesn’t want to take a back seat to anyone.

I hope she’s writing about me.

Stanley gives new meaning to the words, “attention seeking.” If I try to pet or brush one of the other two, he will literally shove them out of the way.

There also seems to be a big emotional adjustment going on and a lot of crying, especially for Elbee. He howled in his sleep, something he hasn’t done since shortly after we lost Charley. He also whimpered and carried on for the first fifteen minutes when I had the nerve to take Stanley and Gus for a walk without him.

ELBEE Hey, I’m a sensitive guy.

On a more positive note, the husband is now taking Elbee out every morning. Losing Riley was especially hard for him because their daily walks were such a special part of his routine. Elbee is really filling a void.

ELBEE I’m enjoying the walks but whereas Pack Leader (as she calls herself) is quite a yenta, the husband doesn’t stop to talk to anyone. I miss getting the latest gossip.

To add to the drama, the four grandkids were over. The older two are very comfortable with the dogs. This photo of Ryan sitting in my office with Elbee, his favorite, and Stanley is probably the calmest moment of the day

The jury is definitely out for the three and five year olds. As I’ve shared in the past, they like Gus because he’s little and cute. Elbee is not a favorite because he’s big and barks. As for Stanley, let me put it this way, they didn’t like Charley who was very large and very calm. Stanley is very large and not very calm. Plus, he loves kids so gets even more excited when he sees them.

As I look at the Doods sitting together, I realize two things. First, losing a close friend, a family member or however dogs sense it, may be different for dogs living in a pack. There truly is a shift in dynamics plus they grieve together but may also grieve differently. Second, and this is totally my opinion as someone who is addicted to Doodles, they seem to be sensitive, and yes, needy. They do drama.

I want to overshare one more thing. Since the “daughter editor” was busy, probably still trying to help her kids get over the dog encounter, I read this post to the husband. His comment, “That’s good. You made something out of nothing.” It’s a gift.

 

 

 

 

 

Gus is a Valentine

On Valentines Day, before joining the other “canine cupids” distributing love and holiday cards at UCLA Medical Center, Gus did some individual visits accompanied by a generous donor and a couple of his family members. They were interested in seeing first hand how the program worked. I was honored to have them with us. I truly believe that you can read about therapy dogs, hear about them or see them on the news, but there is nothing like watching the magic up close.

For our first stop, I tapped on the door of a teenage boy in the PICU. Lying in bed, he looked so sad but as soon as he saw Gus, his face lit up. Despite his pain, the boy had such a kind and gentle demeanor. When I asked if he’d like Gus on his bed, I swear that behind his glasses, I saw a twinkle in his eyes. Although he had difficulty moving, he was able to speak softly and wanted Gus even closer. Before I knew it, Gus was cuddled next to him with his head on the boy’s shoulder.

When it was time for me to take Gus from his bed, I asked if he’d like to see him do a few trick before we left. I didn’t think it was possible but as Gus danced, waved and played peek-a-boo, the boy’s beautiful smile grew even bigger. The moment was so touching, it brought tears to the eyes of the people who were watching.

We went to see another teen who was very happy and calm while she was petting Gus. Still, I have to say that it was her grandmother who was even more comforted. She could barely contain her emotions as she hugged him and told me in Spanish how much it was helping her. As a fellow grandma I could truly understand.

 

 

 

We stopped to visit with a toddler who giggled and greeted Gus like he was one of her favorite stuffed animals. Then I realized that she had met him a few weeks before when he came to her room with Kenta Maeda of the Dodgers.

Finally, we were asked to see a little boy about a year old who was blind. He had never had any sort of interaction whatsoever with a dog. While he sat in his mother’s lap, she gently stroked his hand through Gus’s long, soft hair. Then, since he seemed relaxed and receptive, she rubbed his bare feet along Gus’s back. I couldn’t believe that we were part of something so seemingly simple yet so momentous.

After all of his hard work, I took Gus to meet up with some of the other dogs. That’s when he saw Lola, an adorable little Poodle. Their eyes met and it was  love at first sight. How perfect. The two dogs had spent the morning spreading love, and now they’d each found their own special valentine.

 

 

Oversharing in the Mountains

A few days ago, I was coming down from the mountains with Stanley when a young woman who had also been hiking stopped to admire him. She commented that his hair reminded her of her cat.

STANLEY What’s a cat?

ELBEE Oy vey.

As she was petting him, she asked me his name. When I said “Stanley,” she laughed and told me that was her boyfriend’s name. She was curious as to why I’d chosen it. I explained that Stanley was my wonderful brother who had passed away years ago. I added that he was very funny and that I was sure he got a kick out of it.

That’s when the flood gates opened. Hearing about my loss while surrounded by the beauty  of nature with the comfort of Stanley in her arms, this complete stranger began sharing intimate details of her life. By the way, Stanley is nowhere near ready for a structured situation. He still chases his tail and barks at leaves blowing on the ground. Apparently, though, he is very good at trail therapy.

She told me that she’d lost her mother a few years earlier. Even though loss is different for each person, I shared that my mother had died when I was young so I could understand her pain. That’s when she opened up even more.

After losing her mother she realized that she really didn’t have an addictive personality so she stopped chain smoking and drinking. She also lost over 100 pounds. Still, she was dealing with unresolved issues of anger and grief.

I don’t know if my inner grandma took over or if it was having Stanley with us, but I tried to help. I could see by the expression on her face that a few of the things I said stuck a chord with her. It became a walking therapy session. Not sure how but even the daughters came up.

When we reached a water fountain in the park leading up to the trails, Stanley needed a drink.

ELBEE I bet he did.

She began to fill up a bowl that had been on the ground but before we knew it, he jumped on top of the fountain. Maybe this had all been too much for him.

ELBEE Of course it was.There was way too much oversharing all the way around.

She thanked me as we said goodbye. Heading to my car which was parked some distance away, it struck me how random this encounter had been. If I’d been walking alone, we probably would have smiled and just said “hi.” Because of the big, beautiful, goofy puppy by my side with the name Stanley, two strangers had a few moments of raw emotional connection.