Post by Paul on Dec 26, 2004 17:14:24 GMT 9.5
INDI OF KAPARA
After several interviews it became increasingly obvious that Therapy Dogs in a nursing home or aged complex situation require an anchor. A single person to whom the dog identifies itself and become attached, much like every other dog in the world.
While Therapy Dogs in group situations are there to provide therapy, they are not able to do so if they become confused and not cared for as well as they should be. I hasten to add that none of the dogs were treated in a manner other than with love and respect but animals like consistent factors in the lives as well as humans.
When Merrilyn Collinson became a unit supervisor at Kapara Nursing Home, Indi, a Labradoodle, was on duty 24 hours a day. She found Indi to be confused, under weight and quite literally, depressed. The problem was caused by constantly changing shifts, no one was sure if the previous shift had fed or groomed Indi or indeed attended to his other needs. Fortunately Merrilyn diagnosed the problem and solved it in a no nonsense way which obviously makes her so good at her chosen profession.
The simple answer was for Indi to work the same shifts as Merrilyn and when the days work is done he goes home with Merrilyn to her family and other dog Kieshca, a Dobermann. Indi works four days on and three off and today he is a happy, fit and very well adjusted dog, and I may add, a bit of a larikin.
Although Indi is a big strong dog he is well aware of his strength and knows just what he can or cannot do. He greeted me when I arrived and then promptly disappeared only to return some minutes later with a thumping big stick in his mouth. His expression was clearly, "You're new and I'm ready to play."
I roughed Indi up a little when he was lying on his back, taking my hand between his jaws he had a little chew and play bite. He knew just how far to go, realizing that I was fitter than his normal charges he gave me as much curry as I gave him and we enjoyed a delightful few minutes of play together.
Indi does not suffer from the middle aged spread of other Therapy Dogs that I have met in a communal home atmosphere. He is well shaped and very fit because Merrilyn has strict control over his diet. No doubt he often gets food given to him by the patients but the three day break from the home seems to keep is diet within the normal limitations.
Indi has a friendly gentle attitude, he freely moves around from room to room and gets plenty of exercise during his working day. Happy at his work it was a real pleasure to watch him relating to both patients and staff.
Why is Indi a Therapy instead of a Guide Dog?, it seems that Indi doesn't like cats.
©Paul Springthorpe, Media Production Services. Extracted from ‘It’s a Dog’s Life’ 1990. All rights reserved.
After several interviews it became increasingly obvious that Therapy Dogs in a nursing home or aged complex situation require an anchor. A single person to whom the dog identifies itself and become attached, much like every other dog in the world.
While Therapy Dogs in group situations are there to provide therapy, they are not able to do so if they become confused and not cared for as well as they should be. I hasten to add that none of the dogs were treated in a manner other than with love and respect but animals like consistent factors in the lives as well as humans.
When Merrilyn Collinson became a unit supervisor at Kapara Nursing Home, Indi, a Labradoodle, was on duty 24 hours a day. She found Indi to be confused, under weight and quite literally, depressed. The problem was caused by constantly changing shifts, no one was sure if the previous shift had fed or groomed Indi or indeed attended to his other needs. Fortunately Merrilyn diagnosed the problem and solved it in a no nonsense way which obviously makes her so good at her chosen profession.
The simple answer was for Indi to work the same shifts as Merrilyn and when the days work is done he goes home with Merrilyn to her family and other dog Kieshca, a Dobermann. Indi works four days on and three off and today he is a happy, fit and very well adjusted dog, and I may add, a bit of a larikin.
Although Indi is a big strong dog he is well aware of his strength and knows just what he can or cannot do. He greeted me when I arrived and then promptly disappeared only to return some minutes later with a thumping big stick in his mouth. His expression was clearly, "You're new and I'm ready to play."
I roughed Indi up a little when he was lying on his back, taking my hand between his jaws he had a little chew and play bite. He knew just how far to go, realizing that I was fitter than his normal charges he gave me as much curry as I gave him and we enjoyed a delightful few minutes of play together.
Indi does not suffer from the middle aged spread of other Therapy Dogs that I have met in a communal home atmosphere. He is well shaped and very fit because Merrilyn has strict control over his diet. No doubt he often gets food given to him by the patients but the three day break from the home seems to keep is diet within the normal limitations.
Indi has a friendly gentle attitude, he freely moves around from room to room and gets plenty of exercise during his working day. Happy at his work it was a real pleasure to watch him relating to both patients and staff.
Why is Indi a Therapy instead of a Guide Dog?, it seems that Indi doesn't like cats.
©Paul Springthorpe, Media Production Services. Extracted from ‘It’s a Dog’s Life’ 1990. All rights reserved.
