At Work

All in all, our first Monday afternoon visit to the library went very well.  So well, in fact, that I pushed it too far and ended staying too long…

We arrived a bit later then I had planned – more like 2:30 instead of 2:00.  It was fairly quiet with a few folks walking around, choosing books, quietly talking.  Annie felt a bit apprehensive at first – and curious – but after about 15 minutes of us mulling through the stacks, looking at books, Annie lay right down by my feet as I stood reading from a book on the shelf; moved on and she lay down by my feet again.  A couple of people passed by, fine.  One person came and pet her.  All was going well.

I looked up a few items on the computer, made a selection, and sat down in our staked-out-cozy-area by the large window.  I brought a small bed for her to lie down on – and her special treats.  Going nicely.  Annie enjoyed posing for me to take her photo.  Very content.  I sat reading and treating her periodically as she lay at my feet on her bed.

It was now well past 3:00…  I had planned to stay only about 20-30 minutes – but since it was going so well, I pushed it.  BIG MISTAKE!!!  Suddenly, the library became very busy and noisy.  I saw Annie’s eyes become large as saucers – people coming through the main door – noisy – she started to bark – and bark some more.  An admiring older woman came over and started petting her.  Annie loved this attention – but kept one eye on the stream of people coming through the door; more barking!  I excused myself – and we were out the side door.

Lesson learned here:  I need to heed my own advice.  I always tell people who are beginning therapy dog visits to start with short 20-30 minute visits – and gradually build up.  Next week, I’ll do better.  Annie was fine!

I’d like to start 2o11 with some training classes for Annabelle.  Although training is a part of everyday life for us, formal classes have great merit – from a socialization aspect with other dogs and people.  I choose my trainers and training centers carefully…  I prefer small classes – 8 to 10 participants is plenty.  When I teach therapy dog training classes, I like to cap the class at 8 so that all participants get plenty of practice time.  By the same token, a critical mass is necessary – at least 5 participants make for good interaction.

I’m looking at an Agility class for Annie.  She’s a bit shy – but loves to train.  I think the activity of working on the different pieces of equipment will be a lot of fun for her.  She’s taken a beginners Rally class and did very well as the weeks progressed.

Classes, along with her Monday trips to the library – plus meeting up with dog friends for walks in the park or bike trail – will all help to develop her skills to become a therapy dog when she shows signs of being ready.

I decided it would be a good idea to take Annabelle over to the library to scope out the area where we would settle down and work for awhile on our Mondays at the library with Annie (her special socialization time).

Annie has been to the new library a few times, but not recently.  She was checking everything out – looking here and sniffing there… taking it all in.  It occurred to me that our first few sessions will probably be brief – perhaps 30 minutes at most.  I’ll just have to play it by ear – see how Annie reacts and how readily she’s able to settle down.  Instead of packing a whole bunch of work stuff, I’ll start by bringing just a book.

We located the perfect spot to set ourselves up (hope it’s not taken when we arrive on January 3rd!).  It’s a wonderful spot… three comfy chairs arranged in a semi-circle, a coffee table in front of them decked with several daily and weekly newspaper publications, and beyond a large window with a view of the Holyoke Range to the east.  Sun-drenched and tranquil.  I can’t wait for Monday afternoons at the library with Annie to start on January 3rd!  This will be a special time for both of us.

I’ve made my plan for the New Year…  I love this time – a chance to make plans to do new and interesting things in the upcoming year.  One of the items on my list is especially for Annabelle.  Starting on January 3, 2011, Monday afternoons will be designated as special time with Annie at the library.  Our town recently opened its beautiful new library – a cheery, bright, sunny place – with large windows and comfy chairs to relax and read – and gaze out on the mountain range to the east.  The library welcomes dogs… it’s the perfect place to socialize Annie; people coming and going, stopping to pet her and say hello.

I plan to pack up my work gear – mainly my laptop, perhaps a book I’m reading, along with some treats for Annie, and off we’ll go.  I’ll spend the afternoon working there instead of at my home office; getting Annie out of the house and around new faces.  I’m looking forward to this time with her.  She’ll eat it up!  I can see the smile on her face… she’s a joyful young dog.  In time, I hope she’ll become a good therapy dog.  To that end, we’ve got lots of work ahead of us.

On Thursdays, James and I head to the nursing home just 7 minutes from our house.  Since he had an off day with his hospice visiting yesterday, I was especially watchful of him – both while brushing him for his visiting and when we first arrived.  But, within minutes, I knew he was himself again.  Down the hall he headed and into the physical therapy room to make the rounds of the folks there.  Then, with two of the physical therapists, James and I headed upsides to the Alzheimer’s Unit to work with Constance who continues to spend most of her time in bed.  As soon as she saw James come into her room, she grabbed for his leash and said, Can I take him for a walk? The physical therapists carefully guided her to her feet and with her walker – James’ leash in one hand –  the four of us walked all the way down to the end of the corridor and back.  All the while, Constance was grinning and saying, He likes me!  I love him!  He’s so beautiful! We then lead her to a comfortable chair in the gathering area outside the nurses’ station where she sat and James sat next to her….  all the while she was grinning…  she then turned to the woman sitting next to her and said, See my dog?  He likes me! The woman replied, He’s so good.  What’s his name? Grinning, Constance replied, James.  I love him! At this point, the two therapists were in tears…  Constance had refused all week to walk the corridor with them to get exercise and had spoken very little.  They left me with Constance and James and I stayed and talked with her for quite awhile.  Another very special visit.  It’s hard to break away when such magic is occurring…  We will be back soon.

On Wednesdays, James and I visit hospice patients.  We are currently visiting two patients who are both in the same healthcare facility.  Our visits always leave me glad that I made the 56-mile round trip to get there and back. When leaving, you know, without a doubt, that you have brightened that person’s day.  How could I not feel good about that – no matter how far I had driven?

Today was an off day for James.  He has them – rarely – but they do occur.  He was excited as we prepared for the visit – he gets a thorough brushing and I suit him up in his therapy dog vest and ID badge.  He was set-to-go and jumped in the car.  No problems there…..  had there been at this point, I would have called off the visit.  Anyway, on we went.  He was greeted by several residents as we made our way through the lobby.  We arrived at our first patient’s room and he simply didn’t engage – she was in bed today, rather then sitting in her chair, so I directed him to lie down along side her on the bed (he’s done this before with her).  He kept fidgeting, changing position.  Just not settling down.  The patient said, James is restless today! I then directed him to get off the bed and he quietly lay down on the floor.  He assumed a relaxed position – and the patient started to direct her conversation to me.  Again, had he not been fine settling down on the floor by my feet, we would have left.  Your dog comes first – always.  Never force a visit.  In the end, we had a patient who was happy that we stopped by – and James found himself a spot that satisfied him while a short visit ensued.  We then headed to the second patient and the same scenario occurred.  This time he sat looking out the window (wooded surroundings – possibility of seeing a bird or a squirrel!), I chatted for a short while and we said our good-byes.

If only they could talk…  I don’t feel that James was ill in anyway.  I think he was just having an off day – and because he loves his visiting opportunities, I don’t want to force him into anything and have him start to balk at going.  Read your dog’s signs…  if he could talk, what would he be telling you?

A new resident in the Alzheimer’s unit, Constance has refused to come out of her room.  Her hearing is compromised, she is disoriented, and has difficulty communicating.  Attempts to get her down to the physical therapy room have been futile.  One thing that is known about Constance is that she is an animal lover…  Entered James – and the magical connection occurred!  Constance smiled and waved her hands making attempts to communicate her desire to spend time with James.  The physical therapists wanted to get her up and out of her room, so they told her if she went into the lounge, she could visit with James.  She beamed and willingly followed them to a chair in the lounge positioned so she could cradle James’ head in her hands and pet his head.  LOTS OF SMILES!!!  I love doing this…  wish I could spend everyday bringing James to visit with Constance.

Hospice care provides support and comfort to patients having a six-month life expectancy.  Volunteers interested in working with patients on hospice care go through an extensive training period to prepare for this type of work.   The work can be emotionally draining, but extremely rewarding.  You become a part of the circle of support for the person, and for the family of the individual, as well.

In training, one is taught that silence is often what is needed from a hospice volunteer… regular, everyday subject matter is unimportant.  Being silent can be hard for humans, we feel compelled to fill the silence with words.  Listening, too, is equally important.  Whether it be the patient that wants you to sit silently and listen to everything he wants to say, or the family member that needs someone to talk to.  We need to train ourselves, as human beings normally talkative and avoiding silence, to sit silently and listen – if that is what the situation calls for.

This is where therapy dogs make great hospice volunteers.  They are naturals when it comes to providing a quiet, listening ear.  They provide what is greatly needed at this stage – soft touch, and a feeling of warmth and caring.  A therapy dog will sit in a chair next to the patient, lie down at his feet, or lie alongside him in bed and listen quietly for a very long time.

One of our Bright Spot volunteers reports that patients will frequently pet her dog Suzie and launch into conversation about the dogs in their lives, they then continue to talk about many other things, all the while petting the dog.  Family members or the attending care provider have often told her that prior to her visit with Suzie, the patient had been sad, reluctant to talk, had a variety of discomforts, but after the dog’s visit, the patient was more positive, talking more and taking more interest in life and activities.  Another volunteer visiting hospice patients with her toy poodle, Buddy tells me that she tucks tiny Buddy right in bed with the patient.  He gives them kisses and they make a fuss over him. A volunteer that visits a hospice patient in her home with her two small Portuguese Podengos tells me that the patient adores the dogs and giggles the entire time.  One dog sits up on the patient’s lap while the other sits on the floor next to her and she gives him a brushing.  Her children are very happy that their mom gets a regular visit from both two-legged and four-legged friends.  This volunteer believes that their visits have had a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the patient.

The Director of a local Hospice Life Care Program has told me that she loves to have therapy dogs visit the facility.  She has witnessed dramatic changes in Alzheimer’s and Dementia patients.  Typically these patients show little eye contact, movement, and utter very little speech, but when a therapy dog visits, they focus on the dog, pet him, smile, and often try to speak.   The dog’s presence touches something in them that may trigger a memory – something.  Something is triggered that no human is able to elicit. Patients that don’t want a human volunteer visitor will accept the dog visitor, let the dog jump up on the bed, pet and talk to the dog – then turn and talk to the dog owner.

Clearly, therapy dogs provide socialization, diversion from pain, and pure enjoyment.  As volunteers, one finds comfort in knowing that our visits with our therapy dogs have helped the patient die peacefully and comfortably – the goal of the Hospice Program.

When your dog is a visiting therapy dog, he or she needs to be clean and well-groomed.  It’s a good habit to get into with any dog.  We had an Irish Setter named Breezy – a terrific dog; not a therapy dog, but our fabulous family dog.  She had a regular routine of grooming and bathing.  She just loved to be clean (and adored the one-on-one attention she got).  Since James visits hospice patients, he gets a quick bath every week.  Today he got his trim, as well.  Just part of his routine, he’s fine with it.  Groom your dog on a regular basis – including clipping his nails, and he’ll simply get used to it and expect it.