Day 1319

Therapy Dogging has a wide spectrum of connections with people. My Goldens have sat beside people who are leaving this world. They have comforted those in mourning. Sometimes, they are there to bring multitudes of smiles on a cloudy day. They are wonderful listeners for young ones learning to read. There have been times when they have calmed someone facing fear. Their fur has often been the receptacle of tears.

Today, we helped clean a closet! It was far from glamorous or heart warming, but it is what we needed to do.

A few years ago, I called in a beloved recruitment to support one of our weekly regulars. My sidekick is gifted in organizational skills and has a heart as big as all outdoors! She came right away and stayed. Now, it is a tag team consisting of two friends (from the late (1960s) caring about this senior citizen who touched our lives long ago. Today, we organized a closet which was filled to the brink with boxes, bags and questionable treasures. 50+ boxes, countless bags and a plethora of other items were dealt with (my “partner in crime” had a box cutter and worked like a robot) until the closet could actually be accessed and utilized. We were pretty happy and our senior friend was in disbelief.

There are times when trying to make the world a better place does not look beautiful with bells chiming in the background. It might mean you get your hands dirty or that frustration is softened by the senior hands that do not move as swiftly or deftly as we would like. It is still good to do. No glory, no accolades, but perhaps there is a moment when you see gratitude in eyes that have seen a lifetime of struggle. It’s worth every bit of unglamorous effort.

As for my Therapy Dog…Gus was just happy to be with us. He couldn’t haul boxes or garbage, but he could wag his tail and make us smile. Plus, the Therapy Dogs are our “skeleton key” into every situation where love is needed. Good job, Gus!