When Ned Polan and his wife Nancy moved to Southampton, Massachusetts, in 2008 to be near their children, Ned had just retired as vice president of a major specialty chemicals company in New Jersey. The couple soon got a Golden Retriever puppy they named Brinkley, and the partnership between Ned and this sweet, gentle pup began.
New to the area, and eager to become involved with community affairs, Ned first served on the grant review board for the United Way and as a volunteer counselor with the US Small Business Administration. One day, he spotted an article in the Daily Hampshire Gazette (April 26, 2011) about James the Bright Spot Therapy Dog that made visits to Linda Manor in Leeds, Massachusetts. Inspired by what he read about James’ meaningful visits with the residents at this nursing home, Ned felt that this was a great job for his Brinkley. Something they could do together.
I remember having Brinkley and Ned in one of my therapy dog training classes back in the spring of 2012. I could tell right away that Brinkley had the friendly, outgoing personality that we look for in our Bright Spot Therapy Dogs. He was young, full of spunk, needing a bit more obedience training, but, he was full of promise… he loved people.
Brinkley and Ned became a certified Bright Spot Therapy Dog team in June 2012, when he was two years old. The team soon learned that what was stated in the Gazette article about James was true: It’s addicting! Today, this special therapy dog team visits several facilities a week, year-round. These include the Respite and Crisis Stabilization facility at the Carson Center, Fowler Psychiatric Unit at Noble Hospital, and the Bronson Rehabilitation Unit at Noble Hospital, all in Westfield, Massachusetts; also the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke, Massachusetts. In addition, the team makes monthly visits to special needs pre-adolescent and adolescent kids’ programs at TeamWorks in Westfield.
All of these visits have added up. To be exact, Brinkley and Ned have made over 400 visits to these facilities, earning Brinkley the highest American Kennel Club Therapy Dog Title of Therapy Dog Distinguished (THDD).
For other therapy dog teams interested in earning the AKC THDD title, a certified therapy dog and his teammate must have made and documented 400 volunteer visits. The therapy dog team must be certified through one of the American Kennel Club (AKC) approved Therapy Dog Organizations. Bright Spot is proud to be an AKC approved Therapy Dog Organization. To learn more, visit the American Kennel Club website.
As if this wasn’t enough, in addition to his Bright Spot work, Brinkley is also a member of a national canine crisis response group. He has served at military kids’ grief camps; was called out by the Red Cross to provide comfort at the Revere tornado; and served four weeks with survivors and the families of victims at the Washington Navy Yard shooting site, receiving an Award of Merit from the Secretary of the Navy.
Congratulations, Brinkley! I hope you inspire many others to become involved in this very special work. Thank you for all that you and your teammate Ned do for people in need.