Page 48 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2022 - Online Magazine
P. 48
OPPORTUNITY
TO Serve
“Fur Angels”
Among Us by Katherine McLamore
o you believe in “Fur to have a seizure or
Angels”? There are many redirecting those
Dengaging people in our plagued by self-harm
community, and we are thankful tendencies.”
for their sunny personalities,
however, those of the four-legged “Getting involved
variety can be some of the most in Pet Therapy
entertaining of all! helped me overcome
struggles with
Jolynn Payne and her dogs, Ember shyness,” says
and Nix (Golden Retrievers), like Patricia Plowman. “I
to read with children, do freestyle was encouraged to
dance, and “Doggie Parades” at do intensive training Bonnie Brooks with Taffy, Jesse and Sasha and Lee Larrimore
with Nemo
nursing homes. “Training dogs with my visually
for people is my passion. If people impaired Great Dane, Scout Jean visiting with hospice patients. As
trained their dogs, we would have Louise. Behavior issues dwindled Sasha’s steps slow with age, little
fewer in shelters. Dogs can be and were replaced with a more Jesse (Mini American Shepherd)
trained to detect cancers, viruses, confident dog, which impacted and Taffy (All American Terrier)
me similarly. In have also certified in Pet Therapy,
2021, on National displaying skills in Agility, Trick
Therapy Dog Dog, and Good Citizen categories.
Day, we earned We enjoy Dog Parades, church
the ‘Outstanding events, hospitals, Critter Fest, and
Community 4-H activities.”
Pet Therapy Betty Young has done Pet Therapy
Team’ title and for 16 years, accompanied by her
a proclamation Pekinese/Shih Tzu named Samson.
by the Mayor of One day, they encountered a
Lubbock.” patient surrounded by concerned
staff trying to deal with his
Jolynn Payne with Nix and Ember, Betty Young & Samson, Patricia Bonnie Brooks:
Plowman with Scout Jean Louise elevated blood pressure. Simply
“’Making a petting Samson helped the patient
and search for bed bugs. Dogs difference in the life of a dog who stabilize. Soon he was laughing.
demonstrate athleticism in agility will make a difference in a person’s The caregivers stepped back,
courses and dock diving. Dogs life’ is my mission statement. smiling and thankful. Betty says,
can develop health and safety Sasha, my first Therapy dog, is a “At our age, we especially enjoy
skills to assist the disabled, like Corgi rescue. For over a decade, the slow pace of visiting hospice
sensing when a person is about we have read with kids and done patients and often witness a
community education. We enjoy
48 Lubbock Senior Link
