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They did look a little funny, two Doberman wearing green
bandanas and small green St. Patrick's hats. Their
progress down each hall was slow, people in wheelchairs
laughed and reached out to pat them. People in walkers
quickened their steps and came to the dogs. Staff,
visitors and residents all wanted to give some pats and
scratches and get happy wiggles and licks in return. But
these dogs, both Registered Therapy Dogs had not always
had life so good.
The younger, probably about 3, had been hit by a car and
left lying on I-70 on Sept. 4. Some kind lady had carried
him to her car and taken him to a vet. His care was taken
over by Max Fund and for 6 weeks they cared for him and
tried to find his owner. In mid-Oct. he was adopted.
In Jan. a family relinquished their 8 year old Doberman to
Doberman Rescue. The once large Dobe had been kept in a
crate much of the time since the family had gotten a small
dog and a cat. They reported the dog was "too nervous" to
eat. He appeared to be not much more than a skeleton with
fur. His eyes were dull and he was a little timid. Within
hours this "bag of bones" was placed in a Doberman Rescue
Foster Home, the same home that had adopted the 3 year old
a few months earlier. It was love at first sight. Very
soon the foster home became the adoptive home. In one
month the dog gained back 20 pounds and his zest for life.
Both dogs have completed the training and testing required
to become Registered Therapy Dogs. They are both
volunteers in the Pet Therapy program for Life Source
Hospice, both participate in the Pet Therapy program at
St. Anthony's Hospital and visit in four nursing homes.
Doberman as Therapy Dogs, sure, most of them are just
overgrown lap dogs, learners and lovers. |
