Pet therapy visit

[Milosmom]

Just thought i'd share a moment Milo and I had last week.
Milo made a pet therapy visit to a local nursing facility on Thursday. Of course once we hit the 2nd floor he pulls me to the activity room because he knows there is a big big bag of milkbones being stored there.

As we walked down the hall, one tiny little lady was in a wheelchair and immediately squealed when she saw Milo. So we stopped and she fussed and petted and mushed all over him. Once she felt satisfied, she leaned back in her wheelchair and gave Milo a thoughtful look and said, "Boy, they sure are making dogs longer these days." The staff sitting at the nurses station just cracked up. We had a good giggle over that. Old people are just as cute as little kids, just more wrinkley.

[Jespah]

I think that pet therapy in senior homes is wonderful. I can't imagine having to go live in one for the final stage of your life and then to not have animals around it would be horrible for me. Hats off to you and Milo, Jessica and Jackie and anyone else who does this! +REDAWARD+

[LaRositaMonita]

I need to see how Mac turns out to be... I'd love to do this with him. I volunteered a bit at a nursing home in high school and it was so rewarding. Can't imagine how much fun it must be for a dog :)

[MissGambler's+Mojo'sMommy]

It's so sweet to take the dogs that can do this to nursing homes, and they have to appreciate it so much, I'm sure it's the highlight of the day, if not week. And so cute that he remembered where the bones are kept, now that's a Corgi after Miss Gambler's heart.

[Dillydoodle]

oh my gosh what a cute story! I do love the elderly! The special rehabilitation place that my dad was staying at for a few weeks after he broke his hip recently was such a wonderful place. There are some elderly folks who actually are permanent residents there. Well this was a two floor facility, and i noticed each floor had a big fish tank full of lovely fish, a bird cage with two parakeets and there were two resident cats. In talking to the wonderful and helpful staff there they let me know that while residents cannot have dogs living there, they can have canine visitors anytime during the visiting hours ( which are basically from 7am until about 8 pm....) and we did see a few dogs going in with family members to visit the patients...

I am glad that Milo is able to bring cheer to the people there and I hope that by the time i am old and need to be in some assisted living home or nursing home that the rules may have changed some to accomodate the elderly getting to keep their precious companions.

Emilie

[Fluffypants]

What a cute story! How long have you and Milo been doing therapy?

Em - The place your dad was in sounds nice. I hope that if any of us ever have to be in one - it's like that one.

[Milosmom]

What a cute story! How long have you and Milo been doing therapy?

Em - The place your dad was in sounds nice. I hope that if any of us ever have to be in one - it's like that one.

We have been doing pet therapy for a year now. Milo became certified last June at age 4! It took him to that age to get mellow enough! We go into many facilities and some do have resident cats and dogs.

One place has a cat that always knows when a resident is about to die. Somehow the cat senses it and will literally move in to that resident's room, sleep on that person's bed and not leave them until they die. The nursing staff is very attuned to that and watches closely. It helps them out a lot. Animals are amazing.

One facility has a resident Corgi girl! I think nursing facilities should have pets, and many do have fish and birds. It makes the place more like home and entertains the residents! I am always surprised at how many residents have dog treats in their rooms! Milo thinks he has hit paydirt when we visit!