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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