 |
 |
|
Starting in Therapy Work by Brenda Aloff Sunshine! You can bring it to others! When I go to a nursing home or hospital with my "therapy dogs" I can see the joy shining on the faces of those we are visiting. Many of the people we see at these places had beloved pets that are no longer able to be with them, because of one circumstance or another. Some of the people no longer have family or friends that visit them, or visit infrequently. Therefore the visits my dogs and I make become a very important "routine" to these people. That's the first thing to think about - the responsibility. It can be very disappointing to someone who is looking forward to seeing you, if you don't show up. I make it a point to usually belong to a "group" who visits for this reason. Because of my busy and varied time schedule, I prefer to have a group to "fall back on" if I can't make the visits as scheduled. If you choose to "go it alone" for whatever reason, give some thought to this aspect of therapy dog work. If you cannot make your appointments, you must have someone to fill in for you. This means you will be doing some amount of organization. It begins with contacting local nursing homes and hospitals and seeing if they are interested in your volunteer services. Then get together at least three or four interested "volunteers" and work out schedules with each other, with plans for what will happen if someone cannot make their appointment, who will fill in for them. Sometimes local kennel clubs have established groups, or you can see if there is a local TDI (Therapy Dogs International) group operating in your area. (or a Delta Society group) The biggie of course, is the dog! After all, that's why it's call "therapy dog work" right! Your dog needs to be absolutely safe. It is surprising to me, the people who really don't know their dog! You need to absolutely be able to predict how your dog will react in unusual circumstances. Will your dog be unnerved by palsied hands and shaky caresses? How about wheelchairs, walkers and electric beds? Sometimes children are a little fearful of the dog - what kind of reaction will this elicit from your dog? What about the smell? Some of the homes we visit use very strong cleaning fluids - not to mention the other unpleasant smells that abound at some of these institutions. Sometimes my stomach turns - think about the dog that has a lot more sensitive sense of smell than we do! One of the nursing homes I visit has a cage full of birds - an excellent reason to visit the facility before you take the dog. Breanna is very well trained - I am working her in utility, she is usually impeccable - but her hunting instincts are extremely strong (she has picked more than one bird right out of the air on our "mooches"). Never would I put her or me in a situation where I was depending on her to walk quietly-like-a-lady past a cage full of fluttering birds! At this facility, I avoid the bird cage like a plague - I have mapped out alternative routes to circumvent the birds. A friend that goes with me has Chesapeke Retrievers and she avoids the birds too. Obedience training for at least down, sit, stay and controlled walking on a leash is imperative. You are doing no public service to anyone, including the world of dogs by taking unruly dogs out and about. Not to mention the liability problem you might be creating for yourself. And: my personal pet peeve - if you are out in public with your dog - you are cleaning up after your dog! Take ziploc bags and also inquire about where is an acceptable area to exercise your dog! Watch your dog closely for signs of stress. Even friendly dogs can need "breaks" after just so many people have touched them. Breanna needs frequent breaks - every 5- to 30 minutes - depending on the kind of place we're visiting. Children she can take forever, but elderly people are more stressful for her. Punch doesn't care. She has boundless energy always and often surprises me by hopping into someone's lap and taking a snooze while we visit - then moving on to the next person! Watch yourself too. I find I am more like Breanna that Punch. I, too, need frequent breathers to keep my sanity intact when we are visiting some of the more intense institutions. What about those people who really don't want to see your dog? They exist! I always ask those I've not seen before, "Do you like pets? Would you like to meet my dog?" Sometimes people prefer to look and not touch. Please don't take any of this personally - you are there in a service capacity. If the person in uninterested or even rude - just say "thanks" and move on. If you do any amount of this, you will have some truly amazing experiences. The blind man, who had been at the home for two weeks and had not yet stopped weeping, touched Breanna tentatively as I guided his fingers. Then he grabbed her and hugged her and smiled. And then cried a different kind of tears. He couldn't talk and tell us what he was feeling, but the nurses told me later that that incident seemed to bring him back into the "real world" and he improved immediately. The elderly gentlemen who approached Breanna with moist eyes and the beginnings of tears coursing down his cheeks - then proceeded to tell me that he had been on a ship as a sailor in "the Big War". The ship mascot was a black and white Smooth Fox Terrier. When the ship was hit, he was thrown into the water. He managed to climb onto a raft and fish the dog out of the water. He and the dog survived for two weeks before they were rescued. It made me feel awestruck at the bravery of this man, who told me the tale in a soft voice - his admiration was for the "wee brave black and white tyke [who] kept my spirits up!" The fascinating conversation I've had with some of the ladies we visit - one does gorgeous watercolors of birds, another has traveled extensively and has many lovely stories to tell about other cultures. Gwen, who finally left us at age 105, and Bree and I were there the day before she died. She was so much fun! Bedridden, but always cheerful, Gwen liked to have me lift Breanna "up on the bed so I can visit her". Then there are your "favorites". You will have them. Delightful people, for whatever reason they strike a chord within you and you strike up a friendship. Some people like the dogs, but what they really love is talking to someone who has a minute to listen. If you do this for any amount of time, friends you have made will leave you. I have had to take "breaks" from therapy work for this reason. If you need to - you need to. Don't feel guilty, often a couple of months or so will find you ready to go back and meet some new friends. Many of the people you see will be very lonely. Some will be very contented and eager to show you off to their families who are visiting at the same time. You give what you can to each you meet. You take a way great stories, new friendships and the knowledge that your team has brought some sunshine in! | |||
|
Home - Donations - About FTN - Fox Terrier Info - Fox Terrier Friends Products & Services - The Natural Way - Resources - Contact Us - Site Map © 2001,2002,2003,2004 Fox Terrier Network |
|||