Cynthia

James was back making his usual Thursday rounds at the nursing home. He seemed extra energetic today, so after making his way through the physical therapy room, down around one wing of the first floor and up to the second floor, we finished off visiting several folks on the other wing of the first floor.

I always watch to see if James wants to keep going. Once in a while, he has an off day where I can pretty much tell he’d rather not visit at all (after all, people get like that sometimes, too).  In these rare cases, we might make a couple of quick visits to key people, then leave.  Other times, after we’ve been visiting awhile, he’ll start turning his head away from people – rather than toward them – and look up at me, as much as to say, I’m ready to leave now.  It’s very important to watch for these signs and respond appropriately.  Ignoring them, could turn even the best of therapy dogs off of visiting completely.  I feel dogs are a lot like people in this respect – just needing to take a break and come back another time.

Today, I received several requests from therapists to stop in to visit specific people – so, I kept a careful watch on James. He showed all the signs of being a happy fellow – tail wagging, head moving forward to engage with the patients.  When James is happy, he literally has a smile on his face.  So, on we went for an extra long time.

I offer therapy dog training workshops – both beginner and advanced – at The Collared Scholar in Northampton, MA. It’s a great training facility.  I love the space – not too large, not too small.  The floor is covered completely with a matt-like surface – no slipping problems for the dogs.  And, the acoustics are great so no one has a problem hearing.  This past Sunday, I had a terrific class of beginners.  All the dogs and owners showed great potential and most plan to register for the upcoming advanced class.

I really enjoy teaching people the skills and techniques I’ve acquired over my 19 years of visiting. It’s such a fun class to teach – everyone gets involved interacting with various types of equipment you’d find when visiting a healthcare facility.  We set up mock scenarios and work through them with the dogs.  James comes to the beginner workshop, dressed in his therapy dog vest and ID badge.  He’s a great model – and enjoys every minute of it!  What a sport!

The advanced workshop builds on the skills and techniques taught in the beginner class, introducing more advanced techniques and setting up more complicated scenarios to work through.  The focus of a visit is making it possible for the patient to pet or feel the dog’s soft fur and to promote movement and conversation.  Participants leave the class with the skills needed to make this happen – and have learned that both ends of the leash are at work while visiting.

After participating in both workshops, dog and owner are well-prepared and ready to be evaluated as a therapy dog team, and, hopefully, will become members of Bright Spot Therapy Dogs, Inc. We’re always looking for more volunteers to service the growing number of facilities throughout Western Massachusetts requesting our services.

It happens a couple of times each winter… many of the residents come down with illness all at the same time.  They, therefore, ask that folks not visit unless absolutely necessary to curb the spread of infection.  James enjoyed a good romp in the back field instead!

When I teach folks who are interested in having their dogs become therapy dogs, I always tell them that doing therapy dog visiting is just like doing any other job… you keep on learning.  And, so it is with dogs.  They evolve into better and better therapy dogs with each and every visit.

Five of my dogs have been therapy dogs over the past 19 years.  Three of them have not. Of those who were therapy dogs, only one – Beatrice – my first therapy dog, was a natural at the job right from the first visit.  This is pretty rare – and I’m thankful that Beatrice was such a dog…  she is the dog responsible for launching my passion.  Each one of my other dogs has evolved into their role – improving their technique with each visit.  Personality wise, each of my therapy dogs was very different; each in their own way, great visitors – loved by those they visited each week.

Currently, James is my only visiting dog – since his sister Julia died last November. He never ceases to amaze me – and fill me with pride.  Yesterday’s visit to our local nursing home was no exception.  In fact, he outdid himself.  He was in rare form…  first making the rounds of the physical therapy room:  greeting each person receiving therapy with his tail wagging;  positioning himself just-so to be petted on his head or ears or his back.  Around the room he went – his head held high, a smile on his face, and a tinkle in his eye.  Everyone asked to pet him again – and around he went a second time.

From there, we take the elevator upstairs to visit our Alzheimer patient, Constance. Here we spend about half an hour.  Constance is very sad and confused, and refuses to get out of bed or interact with anyone.  James changes all of that when he gently sits or lies down on her bed.  Yesterday – as he carefully positioned himself to lie down next to her… he placed his forelegs around her as in a hugging position and placed his head down on her chest.  Constance smiled and said,  James is my friend.  James loves me.  This was truly a magical sight.  This dog was so in tune to her sadness and need for comfort.  He knew just what to do – and did it ever-so- gently.  He just lay there in that position.  And, Constance kept smiling.  He never ceases to amaze me.  He is a remarkable dog.

James didn’t start out this way.  He’s been visiting now for four years and he’s ten years old.  He just keeps getting better and better.

Like any death, expected or not, it’s always sad. Today, I received the call I’ve received before.  The call to inform me that our patient had died.  Wednesday is the day we have visited her each week for the past seven months.  We were preparing to head out for our visit when the call came in.

I certainly was not surprised that I was getting the call. In fact, as soon as I heard the volunteer director’s voice, I knew why she was calling.  Her time had come.  She had fought a very long, hard battle.  The last several weeks had been very painful for her.  But, through it all, she smiled at seeing James appear in the doorway of her room.  Clearly, she received comfort in having him lie close to her as she lay, unable to move, in her bed.

She was the lady who on our first meeting gruffly announced, I only like cats! Then, grew to look forward to her boyfriend James – as she called him – coming to visit her each week.   At the end of last week’s visit (which was the last time we would see her), she took my hand and said, I will be better next week. She surely is better now…  I’m glad for her that she is now at rest and free of pain.  She was a tough cookie who wouldn’t let too many people get through her hardened exterior.  I’m thankful that James and I were among the few she let in – and that the visits from her only dog friend brought her joy.  We will miss her…

Now, we wait for a different call…  a call from the volunteer director telling us that there is a new hospice patient who would love a visit from a dog.  James will be ready to go…