This article about Bo, a therapy dog, warmed my heart. Bo and her human volunteer had been cheering up the patients on one floor of the hospital, and the human thought they would take the elevator to another floor to see a few more patients before it was time to go home.
Bo had a different idea. There were upset people waiting in a room near the elevators, and Bo insisted on going in to cheer them up. They asked the human volunteer if Bo was allowed in the ICU. She was, so they asked if Bo would visit their family member there. Of course.
Bo walked into the room and right up next to the hospital bed. I have no idea what was wrong with the gentleman in the bed or even how old he was. There was a towel across his eyes and forehead, so he wasn’t able to see us either. Bo was the perfect height for the gentleman to just put his hand over the side of the bed and pet her. There are only certain people that Bo will choose to stay next to for quite a length of time, but Bo stood there for as long as the man wanted to run his fingers through her hair. Several of the family members in the room were in tears and couldn’t thank us enough for taking the time to come in to give him the opportunity to have the contact with one of his favorite animals.
Hurray for therapy dogs and their humans!
July 21, 2015
I join you in cheering them. I know how good Chutki is to me as a therapist!
You’re lucky to have a granddog living with you You get all the joys and none of the work. 🙂 Yay, Rummuser and Chutki!
oh! how wonderful they are!
my zeke would have made a good therapy dog.
remember when he sat for over half an hour talking with cal the old vet who had stomach cancer?
some dogs just have that gift.
this post does warm my heart.
it’s good for what’s ailing this old world.
many thanks for it. xoxoxoheart.
Yes, they can be wonderful. I’m so sorry you lost Zeke.
i think that kind of service here as well, certainly in long term care faicilties
If I ever have to go into a nursing home, I sure hope a therapy dog visits me!