On Thursday, King had his first official day visiting the nursing home as a Bright Spot certified therapy dog. The residents were excited to hear that King had passed his evaluation and took note that he was now wearing the special blue Bright Spot vest. Since King had been visiting there almost daily for the last month, every one knew him by name. The activities director will now list King’s visit on the residents’ weekly calendar. It will be noted that King will be making rounds each Thursday morning.
A nursing student from an area college had contacted me via email about a course she is taking on mental health. She told me that she has been a dog lover all her life and wants to learn how she can use therapy dogs in her nursing work. We subsequently spoke on the phone, having a long discussion about the work I had done with my therapy dogs over the past 22 years. She asked if she could observe me visiting with the dogs. I invited her to join the King and I visiting the folks at the nursing home, which she did on Thursday. This coming Tuesday, she will meet me at Westhampton Elementary School to watch Lily in her role as a Bright Spot Reading Buddy.
I was pleased when she and I spoke in the parking lot after our hour-long visit with the residents at the nursing home. She said the interaction between King and the residents was amazing. What she saw, she said, far outweighed her expectations. I love to speak with college students who recognize the power of the bond between people and dogs and look to employ human-canine interaction in their plans for the future.