Ed’S Dearest Shih Tzu, Peter – A Therapy Domestic Dog For The People Amongst Dementia At The Alois Alzheimer Center
Then ane twenty-four sixty minutes menses I went to watch without Peter. When I passed Judy inwards the hall she stopped together with said inwards the softest phonation imaginable, “Where’s the dog?”
By Marie Marley
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| Peter |
They tin oftentimes achieve patients inwards the advanced stages of the affliction when footling else can.
I had a 17-year-old Shih Tzu, Peter, whom Ed loved dearly.
In fact, when I took Peter amongst me to visit, Ed ignored me completely, set Peter on his lap together with petted together with talked to him.
One twenty-four sixty minutes menses Ed asked me, “Does he similar it when I ‘pad’ him?”
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“Yes,” I answered. “He likes to endure petted.”
“Oh! I’m together with then happy he likes it when I ‘pad’ him.”
Peter was an unofficial therapy Canis familiaris for the other Alzheimer’s residents equally well.
Whenever they saw him their eyes lit upward together with smiles came to their faces. Some leaned downwards to pet him, together with I held him upward to endure petted past times those who couldn’t curvature down.
Once a visitor asked me to direct maintain Peter inwards to meet his mother, Pat.
“She loves dogs,” he told me.
So I took Peter into Pat’s room.
She was resting inwards bed when I entered together with then I held Peter upward well-nigh her. Peter began licking her aspect upward immediately. She smiled together with laughed.
“Gee, I’m surprised,” I said. “He doesn’t normally ‘kiss’ people he doesn’t know.”
“Dogs are really selective,” she said.
I was astonished. That was the kickoff lucid remark Pat had made for months.
Another resident, Judy, never returned my greeting or said anything to me. In fact, I’d never heard her speak to anyone. But when she saw Peter her face, too, calorie-free upward together with a large smiling e'er came to her face. She petted him enthusiastically.
Then ane twenty-four sixty minutes menses I went to watch without Peter. When I passed Judy inwards the hall she stopped together with said inwards the softest phonation imaginable, “Where’s the dog?”
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| Peter, 2012 |
I was amazed. In exactly a few brusk visits Peter had gotten her to utter – something I hadn’t been able to produce inwards seventeen months. This was exactly farther proof of the ability pets direct maintain amongst people who direct maintain Alzheimer’s disease.
Note: I must sadly study that Peter has exactly passed away. In retention of Ed together with Peter I direct maintain established a fund to pay for critical assist for pets whose owners exactly can’t afford it.
To donate write a depository fiscal establishment jibe to Peter’s Fund together with post service to Ed & Peter’s Fund 14327 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS, 66223. Your gift volition endure deeply appreciated. Marie
Marie Marley is the writer of the accolade winning book, Come Back Early Today: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Story of Love, Alzheimer’s together with Joy, together with a frequent contributor to the together with Huffington Post.
Come Back Early Today:
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Memoir of Love, Alzheimer's together with Joy
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- Alzheimer's Disease together with the Five Stages of Grief
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