I have (had) three therapy dogs - Harry, Ch Marnus Promontory Gold, CGC, Taylor, GCh Marnus Keuka Gold of Whitemoor, PT, GGC (deceased), and Sabrina, Marnus Lady Sabrina of Whitemoor, PT. All of my dogs are certified through Therapy Dogs International (TDI). We visit a nursing home weekly that is quite trying on the dogs because of the care that the residents require. Most of the residents are not capable of carrying on a conversation. We visit all the wards that go from assisted living to a locked Alzheimer’s ward. Harry was the first dog that started visiting the facility. The residents look forward to our visits and some want to share their snacks with him! Because Harry is so gentle I will allow it, but generally prefer that they don’t feed him because then he expects it and won’t do his job. They will always ask me what tricks that my dogs know and thanks to some Freestyle classes and trick classes I will do some short moves for them with the dogs.

Harry has done some amazing work such as when a family asked us to come into the room of their mother who appeared to be in a coma. Harry very methodically smelled the woman starting at her mouth and going to her waist and starting all over again. It was interesting to watch him as he was very gentle and he seemed to know what he was doing. The woman’s family followed me out of the room to thank me and noted how gentle Harry was during his visit. In another instance, we were called in to visit a woman that her daughter said she could not awaken. When we walked into the room, the daughter told her mother that there was a dog here and the woman immediately sat up and interacted with the dog. On one of Taylor’s visits, there was a medical emergency in the facility and we were asked to go to the all-purpose room. We were in that one room for almost half an hour during the emergency. There were a few residents in the room and Taylor got to interact with all of them. Even some of the residents that were not fond of dogs were loving Taylor by the end because he was so gentle. Taylor never tired of interacting with the people. Taylor had that effect on people – he made you fall in love with him. He seemed to feel that was his purpose in life. Sabrina also has visited the facility. I only bring one dog at a time on our visits because some of the quarters are tight and the safety of the dogs comes first.

We have encountered a few residents that do not want to visit with the dogs and their feelings are respected. Interestingly, one of those women who would almost run the dogs over with her wheelchair wanted to visit with them one day. I was surprised and hesitant at the same time, but the volunteer coordinator was there at the time so I allowed it to happen as long as the dog felt it was okay. Once she was assured the dog would not bite, she was very gentle to the dog.

The residents are always happy to see the dogs and I’m glad to know that they are giving the residents some joy.

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