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One Small Step On the Road Back
Those of us who do dog
therapy probably all have a touching story to tell. Let me briefly tell you one
of mine. Some time ago my Golden Retriever, Chipper, who is a certfied TDI
therapy dog, were visiting a local nursing home. We were traveling up and down
the hallways and there was this one man sitting very quietly in his wheelchair
in the hallway. As we approached he quickly wheeled into his room. My first
thought was that he wasn't interested in a visit, but I was wrong. As we passed
his doorway, he motioned us in. I had Chipper approach him very slowly. He
painstakingly reached out his hand to pet Chip (wasn't easy . . . he was a
stroke patient). As soon as his hand reached Chipper's head he just stroked and
stroked him. As we turned to leave, he reached out and grabbed my sleeve. I
turned back to look at him, and he mouthed the words "Thank You".
What more incentive does one need to go back again and
again and again.
Entry written by
Andrea Beeler, Hendersonville NC
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