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What does the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program mean to me??

By Penny Perkins and Dylan

As we walk through the doors we quickly survey the room.  The picture before us consists of people working on crossword puzzles, a few chatting quietly near the fireplace; one person is catnapping while another is sipping on a cup of tea.   As we approach we are quickly recognized and the picture becomes a sea of smiles, quiet chatter and glistening eyes.  My name is Penny and I have brought my best friend Dylan, who is a canine volunteer with St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program, for our weekly visit.  Our experience together is poignant when we witness what our visits do for these wonderful people.  

Dylan is not a service dog; rather a pet of a human volunteer.  Visiting the same facility each week creates a bond between the individual, dog and volunteer.  Dylan may know a few tricks or simple commands but the real work Dylan does is far more, subtle and very precious.  The magical interaction possible between animal and human is unmistakable.  “Tears dry, frowns transform into smiles and inactive hands caress soft fur.  Silence becomes a conversation of whispers in a dog’s ear”. Reiman (2000)

Everyone develops their own special relationship with Dylan and him with them.  Some of the individuals Dylan visits “play” with him expecting tricks, for treats.  It is amazing that these Therapy Dogs know just when to calm down, sit close, and receive soft caresses and treats before approaching their friends in wheelchairs or those who are quietly starring off into the distance. 

There are few words to describe how heart-warming it is, when a small spark of recognition glimmers within the eyes of an individual living with Alzheimer’s, as they begin to recall the visits from week to week.  One of them will ask if they should “break the cookie in half” because they saw me do it the week before.    I listen to stories about the pets that they once had and the fun times they shared together.  I hear funny anecdotes about their lives, sometimes more than once during a visit.  Most are just so happy to have someone visiting.

Whether Dylan does his tricks or just sits beside someone’s chair allowing them to caress him I, too, am receiving a lot of benefits.  The biggest benefit for me is that I now have a reason to get up (I have Rheumatoid Arthritis) and I have a much better feeling about myself as I witness how much Dylan’s visits are appreciated and how much everyone looks forward to seeing us.   I cannot describe how “warm and fuzzy” I feel after a visit.

The St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program builds on their tradition of providing expert First Aid, Health, and Community Care.  Members of St. John recognize that many people are isolated from their families, often in hospitals, senior residences or nursing homes.  It was a natural extension for St. John Ambulance to find a way to care for these people.

The St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program continues to recruit more four-legged friends to visit Seniors Homes, Long-Term Care Facilities and Hospitals.  If you would  like to volunteer with your four-legged friend, please contact the office at 579-6285  to register for an upcoming volunteer orientation session.