I'd like to introduce...

Three very special Pet Partners...
(from the left) Dugan with hospital staff and Beth, Bobby Lee with Peggy, and Maddy.

Autumn's First Dance

Sigh…autumn is tiptoeing in! The leaves are shimmering in the breeze and the light is changing. I love the sparkling quality of light on a beautiful, crisp autumn day. It has such a special, ethereal feel that leaves me wanting more. Wishing I could bottle up the best of Autumn, but knowing if I did, its exquisite specialness would be compromised. I want to be in a vast western Colorado, Wyoming, or Montana valley, surrounded by steep crisp peaks, evergreen polka dots, with golden aspen tumbling down the sides, leaves dancing in the breeze…and enveloped by a brilliant blue sky, sprinkled just right with fluffy white clouds. A crispness in the air, breathing in, being, everything that is my special Autumn.

Inspiration...

can be fleeting when you want it most. I've been struggling with this book and my motivation. I want this book to have life - very much so. But those self-confidence busting little scripts have been getting annoying and a bit debilitating the last month or so. I recently watched the movie Julie/Julia and, along with some good laughs, am finding inspiration from her persistence and faith.

I did complete photos for the first three interviews, to be posted shortly on this blog. I am also reconnecting with several potential interviewees who have expressed interest in this project. I am working my way back to this labor of love...I do want this book to be born and inspire people.

In the moment, choose happiness with no expectations...
Love to all,
Stacie

Photography Update

As I am working on interviews, writing, and photography, here are some fun pictures of an up coming story. Meet Maddy, another therapy dog I will be writing about.

And another bit of photography news...I'm very proud to say that my picture, True Love, on the right side of this blog, is one of two pictures from the Olympia Camera Club headed to a regional competition this Fall!

You Go Get’em, Team! Part Two

When Beth and Dugan began training for Pet Partners, Beth attended four months of class work before Dugan could join her. She learned to recognize different stresses in dogs, what things in hospitals could make him sick, and reviewed basic obedience commands. Once Dugan joined her, they started working on skills and aptitudes both of them would need to master for visiting hospital patients. Although the final tests were difficult, they aced all but one section the first time.

Neutral Dog was Dugan’s downfall. Dugan and Beth are at one end of a room when a “neutral” dog magically appears. They are to meet another therapy team half way across the room, stop, shake hands with each other, and continue to cross the room. The entire time, Dugan cannot acknowledge the “neutral” dog. He cannot even cross Beth to sniff or greet the other dog. Being an Aussie, this was a tough order. You just gotta check out that new guy!

Beth and Dugan joined a ‘study group’ with other participants for extra training and homework. And did it pay off! He passed Neutral Dog on his second try. In all, it took them one and a half years of hard work and training to become a Pet Partner – and was well worth it! In addition to Pet Partners, Dugan successfully passed his Delta Society exams as well.

Beth and Dugan truly enjoy their volunteering, and how fantastic to volunteer in their community together. Dugan’s a working dog, after all and visiting gives him a job he clearly loves. Although they both give so much to the people they meet at the hospital, hospital visiting leaves both of them deeply satisfied and fulfilled. It’s like a great hug, but even better!

A visit starts the night before – with a bath! For all his grace and easygoing nature, Dugan is one big nervous Nellie when baths are involved. Once that’s over (whew!), out comes his gear, a blue hospital Pet Partners vest. Beth lovingly brushes him and gives him the ‘once over.’ The next day, as they are preparing to leave for the hospital, Dugan starts getting excited about going to work – all smiles and butt wiggles! For all this anticipation and excitement, once he gets in his groove at work, Dugan sometimes sleeps on the job.

Being exceptionally well behaved and enticingly adorable for two whole hours can really take it out of a guy. Since he’s an active dog, the first floor of the hospital, their assignment, works out quite well. They move around from the Main Lobby to several different surgery waiting areas. Dugan has never actually visited a patient in a hospital room. He’s a big dog and the rooms are usually small and filled with delicate equipment. And although he loves kids, no openings have arisen for the pediatrics unit since Dugan started visiting.

Visiting can be emotional for both Beth and the people they visit. Dugan’s presence calms people when they need it most. Beth and Dugan often witness tears of compassion and relief from stressed and worried patients, friends, and families. “This is just what I needed,” Beth hears over and over. Dugan freely gives his love and affection to everyone he meets, giving them a special, unconditional avenue of communication and compassion. Sometimes their reward is seeing people just relax and allowing the tears to flow freely. Words are not always necessary.

When his shift is over, Dugan, like many hard workers, gets to let off some steam. They head home, tired and fulfilled, but Beth makes sure he gets a good silly crazy play session out on the lawn when they get home. Watch out, squirrels!

Recently, Beth took him to the elementary school where she works. Since he is also Delta certified, he got to wear his green Delta vest for the first time. He met and showed a homework club of about 25 students what therapy dogs are all about. Beth read “Rosie the Therapy Dog” to the curious and excited class; a dog – at school! Afterward, the kids got to meet Dugan and give him treats. They were absolutely fascinated by him. Not only did Dugan get to show off, he was also on duty as a professional therapy dog. As far as the kids were concerned, this was a real ‘movie star’!

Dugan and Beth are truly real stars. They bring incredible joy and compassion into people’s lives and hearts just when they need it most. You go get’em, Team!

You Go Get’em, Team!

Dugan Stuart is a smart, handsome easygoing fellow. Not a care in the world except loving his adoring family and keeping the squirrels in check.

When first looking for a dog, Beth researched several breeds and decided on an Australian Shepherd or Aussie. She had wanted to get a puppy from a rescue organization, but had no luck finding the right puppy. Rescue organizations usually get older dogs to place in new homes.

Beth and her husband eventually found an Aussie breeder in Gig Harbor, Washington. The breeder had one last little puppy of a litter of nine who was available. Did they want him?

Beth had in mind what the puppy should look like – absolutely nothing like this little red-haired guy. But he quickly won their hearts with his big heart and mischievous brown eyes. He was happy and outgoing…and lovingly attached to their sides. In a word, SPECIAL. He romped into their hearts, merrily keeping the yard free of squirrels for the next three years.

Then, her husband’s grandfather became very ill and entered hospice care the last few weeks of his life. Beth and her husband cared for Grandpa in his small home, during the hot summer season. With the hospital bed and life saving machinery, Grandpa was resided in the dining room. The room was filled with lines, wires, and tubes of all sizes, leaving little room for people to move about, let alone fun-loving three-year-old Aussies.

Bev, the hospice nurse, commented, “Your dog is simply amazing with Grandpa. He’s tolerating the summer’s 100 degree heat, keeping his patience and not demanding attention in the small spaces from distraught family and friends.” Indeed, Dugan seemed to sense the sadness hovering over the little house and helped console everyone, including Grandpa.

How well-behaved and patient Dugan was with their weak and dying grandfather. Dugan was especially careful in the small spaces around Grandpa’s bed, stepping delicately and not disturbing the life support equipment and tubes. Dugan would, in quiet moments, stand dutifully at Grandpa’s bedside, resting his head on the hospital bed railing. When he was alert, Grandpa would quietly rest his hand on Dugan’s head.

Bev commented how kind and patient Dugan was with the grandfather and suggested he would be a wonderful hospital dog, visiting patients and consoling them. She thought he would make a great therapy dog. They only met with Bev a few times. Sadly, Granpda passed away after only a week.

Beth kept thinking about Bev’s comment that Dugan would make a great therapy dog. After several months, she contacted the local hospital’s visiting animal organization and enrolled them both in the program. Together, they learned about hospital, and obedience, as well as what is expected from visiting animals. After a year and a half, Dugan passed the hospital’s rigorous tests on his second try. He also passed the Delta Society’s testing and standards.

Excited for their very first visit, Beth and Dugan were walking into the hospital’s lobby. They happened to stop between the set of double sliding doors so Beth could clean Dugan’s paws before entering. As Beth was cleaning his paws, she noticed a nurse walking up. The nurse exclaimed, “I know this dog!” Beth looked up at her and thought, “I know this person, but from where?” It was Bev, the hospice nurse that had cared for Grandpa several years ago. The person who piqued Beth’s interest in visiting animals and who saw Dugan’s special gifts, was, amazingly, the first person they met on their first visit!

Meeting Extraordinary People and Animals

This past weekend, I was very fortunate to meet two pet partners from the local hospital. I interviewed Beth and Dugan, a gorgeous red merle Aussie. Dugan Stuart is one of the most relaxed Aussies I've met. He sat at our feet as I listened to Beth describe their experiences with visiting. True to Aussie form, Dugan prefers meet and greet, moving around to meet as many people as he can.

Peggy and Bobby Lee, a remarkable and noble chocolate lab, were the other interviewees. Bobby Lee is blind, and right now, their only pet partner. Peggy and her husband have adopted five labs, three of them blind. Bobby Lee has been with the program for several years and enjoys visiting at the Chemical Dependency Center. He enjoys being the center of attention.

Thank you to both families, for letting me get to know (and interview) such amazing people and animals. I am grateful to you both!