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.
