Upcoming "Walk-A-Thon" - in September 2010. Watch this space for more information
Volunteers Betty Dockerill and Nemo
My name is Betty Dockerill and I am a member of Pets and Friends, a
non-profit organization that supports animal and handler visiting teams
volunteering at care facilities. It is truly wonderful to be able to
share my animal with those that are unable to have an animal of their
own and I would like to share some of my most inspiring moments.
I would like to introduce you to Nemo, an almost 4
year-old apricot miniature poodle. Little did I know when I brought
this shy puppy into my home that I had a working dog in the makings.
Puppy school cured the shyness and then the real personality started to
emerge. Nemo’s first “work” experience occurred purely by chance during
my regular walks through the neighbourhood. I used to meet a young man
and his companion. He lived in a group home in the neighbourhood and
had both physical and developmental disabilities. The companion was
always interested in Nemo but always cautioned me against allowing the
fellow near as he tended to grasp on to things with a very tight,
unyielding grip which a cat (who was only startled not injured) had
experienced at the group home. Then one day she asked me if we could
just try to see how he would react to Nemo. I picked Nemo up and
immediately the fellow was interested and quickly took hold of one of
Nemo’s front paws rather tightly. Nemo did not flinch. I could feel
his little body relax in my arms as he calmly looked at the young man
and then Nemo just gave the boy’s hand a little lick which elicited a
laugh and a smile. I knew then that I had a working dog in the making.
I began to do the research to find out how I could share this gift I
felt my dog had with those that have limited opportunities to interact
with animals and I found Pets and Friends. Nemo passed his assessment
with flying colours and I went on to my orientation and my new career
began. We visit three areas in a local hospital. When the car pulls
into the parking lot, Nemo is ready to go. He begins yipping his joy as
I park the car and once I have him out of the vehicle, his tail is up
and he prances as only a poodle can, as we make our way into the
building. We start by signing in and visiting some of the office staff
who he greets with bouncing enthusiasm and then we are off to the
patient/resident areas. Somehow Nemo knows that as soon as we arrive in
a patient/resident area that a certain level of decorum is required.
Nemo is always happy to have people pay him attention. He is tolerant
beyond my belief. He’s had his legs squeezed, his long ears pulled and
braided and his tail pulled and he just sits there. Sometimes the bonds
he makes truly make a difference and other times he is just sitting
receiving attention. Nemo will visit with anyone but will suddenly make
a connection with a person and really “work” with them. His criteria
for his selection processes are a mystery that I get to watch unfold but
have yet to fully understand. One example was a woman who was very
agitated and the staff were having challenges trying to channel her
behavior. Nemo and I arrived on the ward and I was ready to turn and
leave as I thought our presence would only add to the challenges. Nemo
had different ideas though. He made eye contact with the woman and
caught her attention, so I picked him up and she started to pat him and
talk to him. Then she asked me if she sat would he stay on her lap.
Once she sat down, Nemo literally molded his body to hers to get as
close as he could. Occasionally her attention strayed and he would
gently lick her hand and bring her back to him. This lasted for about
30 minutes when he suddenly jumped off her lap and gave me a look that
seemed to say “I have done all I can do so we need to go to see someone
else now.” For that time period the woman stayed calm and remained
seated….the longest time she had done so for over a 24-hours period we
were told. Since then, we have had many similar interactions and each
one fascinates me. I am only the holder of the leash as I watch him
work his magic.
I thank Pets and Friends for giving me the opportunity to do what I do
with my dog. I always head home from our visits with a feeling of
fulfillment that is only able to occur because of my relationship with
my dog and my association with an organization that facilitates the
interaction with the facility where we visit.