Just me and a dog…

for the love of Bea many lives were changed forever

Bright Spot Therapy Dogs, Inc...  In 2004, I started this organization with just me and a dog – and look what’s happened!  

Now I know anything is possible…

By 2004, I had been visiting with therapy dogs for 12 years.  It was the love of Bea, my first therapy dog, that started it all.  In 1992, Beatrice and I made our initial visit together to a psychiatric unit where I witnessed the first of many magical miracles to follow in the years ahead.  The human-canine bond is so powerful that a woman who hadn’t spoken in 20 years sat quietly in a corner of the room – away from other patients in the lounge  – softly talking to Bea, the sweet, gentle, non-threatening English Setter with whom I visited folks in a local assisted living facility every Friday afternoon for 9 years.  This visit had such a profound impact on me that I simply could not turn away from something that had such a meaningful effect on the well being of those in need.

Dogs have always been a comfort to me throughout my life.  I remember every dog I’ve had…  starting with our Dalmatian Duchess my parents got when I was three years old.  I was a shy kid.  I loved hanging out with my dog… easier to do then interacting with people.  I remember my mother taking me to my first dog training class at the age of 10.  She had a fight with the instructor who wasn’t pleased having a child in class.  This is her dog, she told him.  She is the one who needs to learn how to train him, she insisted.  And, she prevailed.  I have been training dogs ever since.  I learned a great deal from my mother about loving and caring for animals.  Having an animal means taking on the responsibility of caring for the animal, she instructed.  It is she that turned me into a life-long lover of dogs.

It only seems natural that I’ve end up making my life’s work about dogs…  By 2004, I was compelled to found a therapy dog organization that had more of a function then simply testing and certifying dogs.  People involved with this work needed more then what they were getting from most therapy dog organizations.  There needed to be something more thorough in the evaluation process I felt – then, a follow through to working with healthcare and educational facilities that wanted visiting therapy dogs.  Training, instruction, and guidance were needed for both the therapy dog team and the facilities running a therapy dog program.

At this time, I was working as an associate director of development at a private school.  I had been at this work for 8 years.  The hours were long…  in fact, the work day had no end – the work simply was never done – and I was expected to get it done.  And, there were the night and weekend events.  I found myself with less and less time to spend with my dogs and visiting folks who enjoyed their companionship.  I proposed a change in my work schedule – a 4 day work week, with the option to work some of my 40 (plus!!!) hours from home (a trend gaining in popularity – certainly something not unheard of).  This change, I stated, would enable me to spend time visiting with my therapy dogs.  My proposal was flatly denied.  Ironically, the school thought my work with therapy dogs was wonderful.

I hated the job I had… seriously.  I was well-payed and hating it.  I was 57 years old and I knew I couldn’t see myself doing that job forever.  I had to do what I loved doing and do it  for a long as I could.  And, doing what I love meant sharing my dogs with others.  What can be more fulfilling than making people feel happy.  I made my decision.  I was leaving.  I gave my notice – stating that I was leaving because my proposal was turned down.  I can still remember the look of shock and disbelief on my boss’s face.  She seemed to be saying, But, but…  you don’t mean that.  Nobody just leaves a job…  not a well-paying one like yours.  Besides, WE NEED YOU.  Too bad I thought to myself.  I can’t be stuck in this unfulfilling job any longer.

The next day, work began on establishing a non-profit therapy dog organization.  Oh, how naive I was!  I had no idea what this entailed…  In the days and months that followed, there were many times when I wondered, in panic, what I had gotten myself into.  I found out there are all kinds of insurance issues when doing things with dogs.  Insurance companies view all dogs as potentially hazardous and vicious.  Insurance was a huge obstacle.  But, I dug in, found people who could help and advice – always pro bono.  I have found that people are very helpful when you’re working to help others in need.  And, DOGS…..  people across all socio-economic strata love and relate to dogs.  Just me and one dog quickly turned into 15, 20, 25, 30.  And, with the help of dedicated people – both volunteers and donors – all who believe in the meaningful work our Bright Spot Therapy Dogs do each day, we have grown close to 100 certified therapy dog teams, have expanded to all parts of New England, and are recognized by the American Kennel Club as an organization whose dogs are eligible to earn the AKC title of Therapy Dog (THD).

Over the past 20 years, 5 of my dogs have been therapy dogs, and together we have made over 30,000 visits to nursing homes, psychiatric facilities, Alzheimer’s Units, hospitals, hospice, and schools.  I have never left a facility without feeling that my dog has made at least one person feel happier, less lonely, and comforted.  How could I not love what I do!  I’m with my dogs – and I see them making other people feel good!