Congratulations Roxie!

All that practice and hard work paid off! Roxie passed her Therapy Dog Certification Exam on Saturday 7/21/12 and is now ready to go to work! We first introduced Roxie in November 2011; Sharon Newman, a Certified Lend A Paw Handler, was raising Roxie to become a certified therapy dog. Roxie is a Golden Retriever who, even as a puppy, loved people and wanted to please them. 

Roxie is proudly wearing her Lend A Paw vest!

Her first visit as a newly Certified therapy dog was at the Jewish Home for the Aging, where she made the residents extremely happy! 

"I look forward to many years of visits with her to a variety of places, bringing happiness and love to so many people", says Newman.

Congratulations Sharon and Roxie! And thank you for your services!

Story by Nathalie Seguin, photo courtesy of Sharon Newman.

Scheduled Visits - August 2012

Here is a calendar of all Lend A Paw scheduled visits for the month of August 2012. Click on an event to see details about the visit. Choose the event(s) you wish to participate in and contact the Leader of the site to RSVP.

Special needs rescue volunteers to help others

Liza is a special needs dog who is being fostered by LAP volunteer, Donna Beirne.

Last year, Liza had two surgeries on her rear right leg ~ a metal plate and pins inserted for a broken leg and yet a second surgery for her hip.  Her senior owner could not continue with her therapy program, and her muscle tone atrophied quite a bit.  A caring vet contacted Cavalier Rescue USA, an all-volunteer rescue organization, when her owner was considering the unthinkable.  Liza limits her walks to a hip-hop-hobble when on backyard outings and is extremely motivated in getting to her food bowl and when offered treats.

Donna Beirne, one of Lend A Paw's most dedicated volunteers was approved last July to be a foster home for Cavalier Rescue. Liza came to Donna’s family in February this year. Donna says she had never cared for a special needs dog before and was hesitant, but from day one, Liza taught her how to do it.  As she discovered, it is really quite easy.  

Thanks to Donna, Liza began attending water therapy sessions at  K9s Only, where she displays her great swimming skill.  In the water, no one would know that she is a special needs girl.  Now that summer is here, she maintains her exercise program in the big pool at her foster home. 

Liza was able to test for the LAP Certification using a doggie stroller.

In order to promote Liza and to show how much love and companionship she is able to provide, she recently passed her Lend A Paw certification test.  She was able to test in her doggie stroller.  She will attend limited site visits, when appropriate. 

Liza attended her first Lend a Paw therapy dog visit at Grancell Jewish Home for the Aging.  Other LAP teams who also visited include new handler Chantal Chelin and LAP pro, Bailey, and the very active LAP team, Lisa Erving and Ash.  This visit was well documented with charming photos taken by Lydia Marcus, Zen Pet Pix Photographer, LAP handler and owner of Cali-the-therapy-dog. 

When meeting dogs and people, Liza eagerly requests an introduction to new friends with her nose and it is quite funny to see her nose wiggling, taking in the scent of each new greeter and dog visitor she encounters.  She had quite a nose workout today and it was obvious she was happy to have a cool part-time job of bringing smiles to those she meets in her "red chariot."

Liza participated in her first visit alongside LAP teams Chantal Chelin and Bailey and Lisa Erving and Ash.

LAP handler Lydia Marcus with Liza and Bailey.

Liza is still waiting for a special someone who will be patient and commit to giving her a forever home.  Special needs dogs can take a long time to place, so until then, he will always have a home and loving care with Donna's family.

Liza’s foster mom, Donna Beirne has two other rescue Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, both in the Lend A Paw Therapy Dog Program:  5½-year-old Tri-color, Audrey Hep Beirne who has been a LAP dog since July 2010 and 5½-year-old Blenheim, Einstein (aka Ein) who is also a LAP dog since May this year.

Photography by Lydia Marcus of Zen Pet Pix Photography.

Ann Douglas Center at L.A. Mission

Barbara Sulier and her dog, Cody are the site leaders for the Ann Douglas Center at the LA Mission. In a recent Facebook post, Barbara wrote:

Cody was in heaven!

"Had a WONDERFUL, exhausting day at the Ann Douglas Center on Saturday. There were 30 kids and then there was Cody. He was in heaven. They petted him, they brushed him, they wiped him down with doggy clean cloths, they hugged him, they walked him, they kissed him, they asked questions about him, they drew pictures of him and gave them to us to take home. Cody wagged his tail so much I think he sprained it. He gave as many kisses as he got and he was smiling that BIG HANGING TONGUE smile he does so well. A full hour of bliss wore him out entirely - in a good way. What a GREAT day for everyone. This is what it is all about."

When I read this, I asked Barbara to describe the kind of visit one can expect when going to this site. "Describing this Lend A Paw site is a hard task for me. It has become dear to Cody and me and I'm not sure how to make the enthusiasm come through," states Sulier. But here is what she wrote:

If you like working with dogs and children, this is the site. There are children from infants to teenagers, to young adults, to adults acting like kids!

The Ann Douglas Center is an outreach branch of the Los Angeles Mission, providing services to women and children.  The “Mommy and Me” Saturday morning group, which LAP attends the third Saturday of every month, is not your normal Mommy and Me class.  On Saturday mornings, the Center opens around 7:30 am for Moms and their children (and a few dads too).  They are all fed breakfast.  By the time Lend A Paw teams arrive around 8:30 am, things are just starting.  Moms go “shopping” at the Center for clothing, diapers, baby food, formula, shoes, coats, tooth brushes,  hair clips, toilet paper, and the list goes on.  During that time, the children are in their own room doing crafts, reading books, playing games.  Volunteers from all over Los Angeles County and beyond come in to help sit with the children, play with them, read to them.  That’s where the dogs and handlers come in. 

We arrive as a group.  Sometimes there are 1-3 children, but lately it has been 30 children and their moms.  The dogs are as excited to see the children as the children are to see the dogs.  The regular volunteers and staff ALSO are excited to see the dogs. For the children who’ve been at the Mommy and Me before – they usually come rushing out to hug and greet the dogs.  They ask each dog if they remember them.  

A little girl at the Center gave Barbara and Cody this picture!

As with any other Lend A Paw location, we’re there to educate, entertain, comfort, provide conversation, or just sit and listen.  We teach the children how to interact with the dogs.  How to pet with the direction of the fur, how to groom with brushes, how to give some commands,  how to give a treat, and when I can, a little dog anatomy for the older kids.  They are fascinated to learn dogs have bones in their tails.  In the middle of all this, we are bombarded with questions as well – what does he eat, where does she sleep, is she your dog, where did you get him?

We take the dogs on “walks” – we walk the dogs in the lobby area – probably an 8 X12 foot area- with children holding on to every inch of leash they can get.  But most of the  time is spent just sitting on the floor petting the dogs and talking.  As we all know, there is something about petting a dog that gets people to open up and talk.  Children are great talkers.  Sometime, especially when there are LOTS of children and not enough volunteers, we read to the children, we sit with them while they color.   It is sort of playtime for us all, but in a confined setting. The time just flies by and too soon the hour is done. 

Gwen and Lilo had their first ever LAP visit at the Ann Douglas Center.

Many Lend A Paw teams have already visited the Ann Douglas Center and all had wonderful experiences. Gwen and her little dog, Lilo had their first ever Lend A Paw visit at the Center. Here is what they had to say about their visit:  “It was our very first visit and we had a lot of fun.  The kids were so eager to carry Lilo and loved her hair.  Lilo also did a very good job in close vicinity to Cody. Our participation in Lend A Paw has been 3 months in the making and we look forward to doing more great work!”

From talking to the children, Barbara has learned that most of them are fairly recently homeless and on the streets. They talk about what they have left behind and often of the pets they had to give up. But there are also children who have spent all their life on the street or are were too young to remember anything different. These are the children who are often afraid of the dogs because the dogs they’ve encountered are not kind, affectionate, well-groomed, safe pets.  Noah was one of those kids and Barbara tells us this story:

"One day when there were enough dogs to go around, I was asked to work specifically with Noah, a boy about 7-8 years old.  He was afraid of dogs and was at the far end of the craft room sitting in a chair.  I pulled up a chair next to him, keeping Cody on the outside of me.  I started by talking to Noah about Noah.  While we talked, I pet Cody’s head.  Cody put his head on my lap and I continued talking and petting.  Then Noah and I started talking about Cody.  Cody, pushed his head further across my lap almost over to the end of Noah’s chair.  As Noah became more comfortable, I gradually moved Cody between my chair and Noah’s, trying to call NO attention to it.  We continued talking, I continued petting.  Pretty soon, Noah was petting too.  Cody put his head on Noah’s lap and I think the friendship was formed at that moment.  Within about 20 minutes, Noah would “walk” Cody, groom Cody, hug Cody and get kisses from Cody.  Noah LOVED lying on Cody lying on the floor.  As I was leaving and saying all my goodbyes, Noah came over and asked ' I know Cody has a name, but does he have a middle name?' I said no.  Noah replied – 'He does now – it’s Noah.' "

So, if you think you would like to visit with us, sign up quickly because due to limited space, we can only bring 4 teams.  Then, pack up your brush, grooming tools, pet wipes, spare leash (for the children to hold) and be ready for a rewarding time! 


The next visit at the Ann Douglas Center is scheduled for Saturday, July 21st. 

Story and Photos by Barbara Sulier.

 

Scheduled Visits - July 2012

Here is a calendar of all Lend A Paw scheduled visits for the month of July 2012. Click on an event to see details about the visit. Choose the event(s) you wish to participate in and contact the Leader of the site to RSVP.

A Special Lady Friend For Ash

Ash hangs with his special Lady Friend, Ruth.

Silverado Hospice Care  exists in the hope and belief that through effective, compassionate care, patients can approach the ends of their lives with dignity and comfort in the midst of a caring environment sensitive to their needs.

Hospice is a philosophy of care that assists patients, families, and friends during the final stages of a terminal illness.  Silverado Hospice promotes dignity and emphasizes quality of life for those who choose to die in familiar surroundings with those they love.

Silverado Hospice of Los Angeles County and Lend A Paw have partnered to provide support and love in the form of a therapy dog's visit. Lisa Erving and her two Lend A Paw Certified dogs, Ash and Cinder, have received many requests for visits. "Too many for just me and my two dogs!" says Lisa. "I hope more Lend A Paw teams join the program."

When asked how a visit to a Silverado client differs from other visits, Lisa states that each visit seems unique from one to another. They have been referred to 4 ladies so far and the visits have each been totally different. So I asked Lisa to describe a visit with one of their "lady friends." Here is what she had to say:

"The most important aspect is that the Lend A Paw teams actually go to the client's home for the visit. And they spend all their time with just one client and their family and caregivers. With Ruth, the visit mostly centers around Ash (or Cinder). I would say it's 80% dog. Ash is slower and enjoys just hanging with Ruth. We visit on Sunday mornings and we try to get in a surprise Wednesday visit once a month.

A usual visit with Ruth goes like this:

Ash will greet the caregiver, then runs down the hallway to Ruth's bedroom.  You would not believe how this women lights up when she sees him.  Ash waits for the OK, then jumps on the bed and lays down next to her.  Ruth really enjoys the closeness and chatting with Ash - they really enjoy watching T.V. and having snacks together.  If Ash falls asleep, Ruth acts like she won the lotto.  She just loves when he does that.  After about an hour, Ash will go to the back door, he'll go outside and check everything.  Then comes back in, lays down in the hallway and rests for about 20 minutes.  I get to talk to Ruth then.  Then it's time for 'good byes' (which sometimes take forever).  We usually stay a couple of hours. If I could pick a grandma for my dogs, it would be her!"

Lisa, Ash and Cinder celebrated Miriam's birthday!

Lisa and Ash also visited another lady, named Miriam, who recently passed away; "Funny how much we miss her," states Lisa. "She was so awesome. She was an Ambassador for Japan after World War II, spoke 5 languages, lived in Japan for 20 years, traveled the world and America! She even dated Ronald Reagan!"

According to Lisa, to provide visits for Silverado Hospice Care you have to be a Lend A Paw certified handler and dog and you also have to undergo training with Silverado. "The training has been shortened for the LAP teams because pet therapy volunteers can't do all the stuff regular volunteers can do. Our visits are limited to what our dogs can do." Lisa also states that she was only asked to visit Ruth once or twice a month. "But if you met her, you would understand why we go every week!"

If becoming a Lend A Paw volunteer and providing visits for the Silverado Hospice Care of Los Angeles interests you, you should contact Sharon Vincuilla, Director of the LAP program.

Story by Nathalie Seguin, photos by Lisa Erving.

It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to one of our beloved volunteers.

Last Thursday, Ziko woke up feeling weak. A closer look revealed swelling in his side, which was soon discovered to be internal bleeding. An aggressive form of cancer caused a bleeding tumor and quickly Ziko was in critical condition. Out of love for this special boy, we decided to say goodbye and send him to heaven.

Ziko, a 9 year old German Shepherd was rescued 5 years ago from a situation of neglect. Shy and sweet, he worked hard to be a good boy and to always listen. As his confidence grew, so did his heart, and after 1 year he became a certified Lend A Paw Therapy Dog. Ziko's magnificent size usually invoked a moment of awe (and sometimes fear) in those who saw him. But a longer look revealed a gentle, loving soul, and his calm presence made those around him feel at peace. Being a German Shepherd, a popular breed, many individuals could relate to him. Children often asked if he was a police dog, and elderly folk recalled fond memories of their own shepherds.

Ziko's best quality was his pure selfless love, which he consistently showed to those around him. When the sun shined on Ziko, you could see the heavens in his eyes, and when he got close enough you could feel the love on his breath.  The first kiss from Ziko usually started with a brief feeling of panic as his enormous mouth enclosed on you. But when he got close enough, he lifted up his head and gave two quick licks and you knew that something special just happened. Most dogs give kisses because they are happy or they want something, like food or attention. But when Ziko kissed you, it was only for one purpose: to tell you he loved you.

We feel a great void with the loss of Ziko, but I hope that will someday be filled by memories of who he was and the lessons he taught us. The most important lesson I have learned from Ziko is to never be afraid to tell someone you love them. Even when we are judged and misunderstood, if we are calm and patient, love will shine through in the end.

Story and photos by Sharon Vincuilla and Tom Fox.