Pet Therapy-session 1

This afternoon my trusty Coolie x Kelpie sidekick Zali and I visited the Nursing home I've been working at casually for the past few months. I'd spoken with a number of residents about how interested they would be to meet any animals, particularly dogs because I can help in that regard. So I checked with the heads of the establishment and they offered encouragement for the benefit of the residents so it was decided.

I had left it too late to get a professional groomer to give her a good wash and blow dry so instead I took to her with a bar of dog soap from the lemongrass man at the local markets. Her toenails were clipped and she had a good towel dry (she loves the towel part-my word, she can make some good groans of satisfaction).

I wasn't sure how she would go with all the new sights and smells and people but she has a fabulous temperament, very tolerant of all kinds of people, other dogs and even gives the chickens a healthy range if they threaten to peck her over a scrap. 

We went into the Dementia ward first and had got a good response with interest and semi-intelligible conversation from some that were difficult to get a sentence out of. The way I see it, if I am ever cursed with the disease of Dementia I would appreciate contact with animals over human contact. The times their companionship has guarded against failing mental health would be countless and their happy presence is reassuring without the need for words.

We wound our way through the home visiting different rooms along the way, one lady in particular who I've spoken with at length about our shared love of animals. She was ever so grateful for the visit. She amongst others were equally glad to have a cuddle and Zali handled it really quite well. Towards the end her eagerness to continue the pathways of smell she could sense was becoming overwhelming so sitting still and being petted became the second priority but she dutifully obeyed and sat. 

By the end of the visit she was all patted out and keen to get home and chill out next to her human. She's only 3 years old but seems to have the wisdom of a much older animal. Personalities like this make me wonder if perhaps the Buddhist principle of reincarnation has some weight to it after all.