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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.

 Click to EnlargeI 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.