Hope, Connections, and A Huge Sigh of (Stress) Relief

It all started fifteen years ago. When my kids went to college, I needed a new hobby and I also wanted to do volunteer work. I got a new Labrador Retriever puppy who was incredibly special. We started obedience training and field training with her, and then I heard about pet therapy, so I looked for somewhere to join. Over the years, I have had four therapy dogs: Bella, Lana, Sophie, and Daisy.  I have seen many connections that my dogs have made with patients we visited.

My favorite story was with Bella. We were working at Houston Methodist Hospital going to patient rooms to visit. In one room, there was a man lying in bed comatose; he had fallen off his horse and had a bad head injury. His wife and a nurse were sitting with him and suggested I put Bella in a chair next to his bed. We put his hand on Bella and his fingers started to move as he began feeling her hair and then her collar and leash. His wife began to cry and said he might relate what he is feeling to a horse and tackle. This was the first sign that he was aware of his surroundings! From that point forward, once a week our job was to go into his room and put Bella on his bed. He always responded to her. After months of surgeries and rehab, finally he was ready to go home. On Thanksgiving Day, Bella and I went to say goodbye. Happy tears were shed that he was better, and Bella had been the first sign of HOPE!

Another story I treasure happened at Shriners Hospital in the physical therapy room. Staff were working with a small boy encouraging him to walk. He had many congenital birth defects, one of which involved his legs. He had endured multiple surgeries and physical therapy over the years. On this day, they were hopeful he would take his first steps. They positioned Bella and me several feet away from him and told him that if he could walk to Bella, his reward was getting to play with her as long as he wanted. With help from the therapist, he started to walk toward Bella. His mom was there watching, and tears of joy were streaming down her face, and mine too! To be part of this moment was surreal and when I got home, I broke down in tears telling my husband what we had been part of. One month later, I was back at Shriners walking down the hall and heard a little voice yell “BELLA, BELLA!”.  We turned around and there was that little boy walking toward us. He had walked 1,000 steps that day. It is so rewarding to witness the amazing connections animals can have with people and how motivating they are.

During Covid, everything stopped, including pet therapy. When pet therapy visits started opening again, several of the hospitals we had been visiting asked us to first come to visit just their staff for stress relief. We had for years made hundreds of stress relief visits to schools, colleges, and universities during exam times, but now the notion of visiting just hospital staff, not patients, after Covid really caught on, and soon other organizations were following suit. It had been a lonely, stressful two years for medical professionals, and they were so grateful we were coming just to visit them. 

I have been part of the evolution of pet therapy over the last 15 years.  Personally, I have learned that being a people person and a good listener helps make pet therapy a profound experience. So many people we visit are lonely, and we have the potential to impact their day in a positive way!

Today Faithful Paws Houston offers excellent training for both the dog and the handler. And my how we have grown! From originally only visiting patients in the hospital and nursing homes, now the sky is the limit. Learn how to become a member today and help spread unconditional love to everyone you meet.