A 4 - The Oakville Beaver, W ednesday S eptem ber 4, 2002 Man's best friend plays key role in bringing comfort to shut-ins, seniors By Lindsey Craig S P E C IA L T O T H E B E A V E R For many seniors and shut-ins, it's the one thing they have to look forward to each week -- a familiar face, a warm wel come, and a friend. Called the Therapy Dog Program, an initiative of St. John Ambulance and Oakville and District Humane Society, the program brings comfort, joy and compan ionship to members of the community who are sick, lonely or reside in full-time care facilities. A n o th e r G reat A u ctio n By: B | | | B CLOSE-OUT RESELLERS INCORPORATED Auctioneers £ Liquidators HAS BOUGHT OUT ALL STOCK. MERCHANDISE. INVENTORIES. CHATTELS & RIGHTS OF DIRECTION. OF "A R T AUCTION TRUST LT D ." AND SHALL HEREBY OFFER ALL SUCH ITEMIZED ARTICLES AT AUCTION. We re a lw a ys lo o kin g to buy in v e n to ry close outs, e sta te s, o versto cks, d istre sse d sto cks! 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The service relies upon members of the community, along with their canines, to volunteer once or twice a week with the residents of various facilities, such as a local hospital or retirement home. "Our goal is to provide the opportunity for clients of various facilities to experi ence the human and animal bond through the unconditional love of an animal, because they (the dogs) don't mind if you're old, young, disabled or if your clothes match," said Heather White, com munity services co-ordinator for the Oakville Humane Society, and program co-ordinator and evaluator for the Therapy Dog program of the Oakville branch of St. John Ambulance. Formed in 1994, the partnership between the two organizations brings comfort and friendship to the residents at nine different Oakville locations, with 18 members of the Oakville community and their pets currently participating. "For those who don't have any family, this becomes the focal point of their week," White said, noting that in addition to companionship, residents reap the ther apeutic benefits they can receive from hav ing a four-legged friend, such as lowering blood pressure, stress reduction and an increase in social interaction. "Some people won't talk to staff very much, but as soon as the dogs come in, they'll open up and start talking to them instead," she said. But while facility staff members praise the program for its medical advantages, for seniors or shut-ins, it's the sense of com panionship that matters most. "Over a period of time, they (dogs) get Jamie Smith · Special to the Oakville Beaver St. John Ambulance volunteer Caroline Gmaz and Therapy Dog Teddy spend time with Vic Cunningham during a recent afternoon at SEN A C A . to know you and it's very, very reward ing," said 25-year Oakville resident Maurice Jansz, who frequents a local sen iors facility visited by the dogs. "It becomes a friendship." Oakville resident Alice Geertsen, who has been volunteering for the Therapy Dog program for two and a half years, also sees the bond that forms between seniors and animals, including her four-and-a-halfyear-old golden retriever, Teddy. "Some have really gotten to know Teddy and, from what I understand, they wait each week for the dog to come," she said. White said that some patients or facili ty residents even have pictures of the Therapy Dogs sitting by their beds. "It becomes the focal point of discussion with their families. They'll say, `He comes to visit me on Thursdays, you should come and meet him,' type of thing." White noted these relationships between seniors and the dogs are able to form because of the manner in which the program operates. "It's the same people (volunteers) with the same animals visit ing the same facility, so they can set up a relationship with the people," she said. Visits to each hospital, seniors centre, etc. occur once or twice a week and run anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour in duration. Most take place in group set tings, such as TV rooms or lounges. But for those restricted to their rooms, such as hospital patients, the cuddly canines can go to them. "It's nice because the program is so mobile," White said. "Some dogs go room to room, so it's one on one. They (patients or residents) feel as though it's their special time." But as mentioned earlier, she also noted the program can do more than provide companionship. For example, White described one situation in which an elder ly woman had suffered a stroke and was refusing to turn her head to the side, despite the efforts of her family members. Recalling the woman's love for dogs, the family contacted the Therapy Dog pro gram and requested a canine visit. The dog was then positioned at the side o f the woman, so that she was encouraged to turn her head. "It started the process and she began to show improvement. The dog definitely made a contribution to helping her," said White. In another case, a female in her early 40s had been in an accident and suffered a brain injury. Having not moved or spoken since she incurred the injury, a golden retriever therapy dog was brought into her hospital room in hopes of getting a response. "The dog gave her a big slurpy kiss and she uttered her first sound since the accident," said White. As for the dogs accepted into the pro gram, great care is taken in the selection process. All dogs are tested for tempera ment, and must be annually certified by their veterinarians as being up-to-date on all vaccinations and in good general health. Once dogs are selected, they must then endure a 10-week training process before they begin making visits. White said dogs must be obedient, but "not formal obedience, just that the dog behaves well on a leash." ·Another criteria is that the dog social izes well with Other people, including chil dren, and with other animals, since other facilities might be home to other types of pets. "Basically, the dog has to be calm, well socialized, friendly and outgoing," White continued, adding that the volunteer must also enjoy working with people, since the volunteers, too, develop friendships with those they visit. "It's rewarding for everyone who par ticipates," White said. Oakville resident and Therapy Dog volunteer Caroline Gmaz, who has been volunteering for the program since the spring of this year, agreed. She first learned of the program from her 11-yearold daughter, Veronica, who wanted to participate herself with their four-and-ahalf-year-old Portuguese water dog, Skipper, but couldn't because she wasn't 16. "She asked me to do it because she wasn't old enough, and I'm so glad she insisted because we're both (she and Skipper) having a great time," she said. Program volunteers, such as Gmaz and Geertsen, receive the same insurance cov erage that St. John Ambulance provides for all its members. They also wear a uni form identifying them as St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog members, with the canines, too, wearing Therapy Dog identifiers. Volunteers must also partici pate in a screening process that includes a criminal records check. For those interested in volunteering, or for more information, contact St. John Ambulance's Oakville branch manager Linda Snyder at 905-469-9325 or White at 905-845-1551, ext. 14. KENMORE 3.2-CU. FT. SUPER CAPACITY PLUS WASHER Triple action agitator. White wash basket with lifetime warranty; details in store. #23832. Sears reg. 799.99. 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