Pet Therapy is a TEAM effort!

There has been some issues at the hospital regarding acknowledging a recently retired dog. Here is my response to our "chairperson."

I am saddened regarding the decision of not acknowledging Stormy at the upcoming Volunteer dinner.

As a pet therapy volunteer, I would be greatly disappointed if my dog, Hermione, was not honored in grand form among her volunteer peers for all her hard work done for the hospital. Hermione and I are a team, this is true, but without her I would not be here. It is Hermione who does the true work. I do not want the spot light upon myself; I feel the others would agree. The spotlight belongs to the dogs.

When we receive our pins, at the dinner, there is no differentiation between the pet therapy teams and the other volunteers. I feel that we (the handlers) are unfairly representing one half of a team. It is a team effort, thus the dogs need to be acknowledged along with their handlers.

I did some research looking at various pet therapy programs at other local hospitals. I found more often not they acknowledge the pet therapy team, both the dog and the handler.

The handlers and the dogs deserve to be acknowledged together at one time, only recognizing the handlers at a volunteer dinner and a certificate in a hidden ceremony in a conference room for the dog. Please consider a change in the way the pet therapy program is represented. It is a team effort. You can not have one without the other.

Breathing treatments

Donya's cough has been getting worse. If you recall she has feline asthma. During the holidays, I was talking about Donya and wishing I had a nebulizer. Low and behold, she had one she had not used. So, now I have a nebulizer with meds. Donya has received her first breathing treatment. I put her in a cat carrier, lock her in, put the nebulizer in there and cover her up. It seemed to help. Her coughs aren't so bad and not as often. This may work for us for a while.

They are getting old

Lately, I have been allowing the cats to stretch their legs outside. I have to say, Fog and Donya last about 5 minutes then want to come back in. Nik well he wonders and then comes to the front door and whines. Age as caught up to them. Fog can not jump over the fence. Donya and Nik are still able. Cookie wants no part of the out doors. She just whines at the screen door.

She is as bad as "The Boys"

Today was our return to Paws to Read program. Hermione was sooooooo excited to return to school. She was nuts. She and I entered the room. The Boys could not contain their happiness. It was difficult, but we managed to get thru my version of functional skills and art before Hermione demanded to play fetch. I mean demanded. She went to my desk and pawed at the drawers were the ball is hid. Damn, she is one smart pooch! The boys sat in a line, well kinda, and every one took turns. They all seemed to enjoy what they were doing. Hermione got a mini work out. We took the kids to the buses, then we headed off to do our program.

The class we were in had 2 of my previous students. One was shy, but that is OK. The other was thrilled. He met Hermione back when we first came here. When it was his turn, he sat nearly in my lap. He took my arm from behind him and placed it on his waist. He was happy. He was reading with my assistance. It was a good thing.

Of course, Hermione loved it all.

Guess who is a teenager?????

Happy 13th, Foggy Dog!!!

Happy New Year!