step one of "pay it forward"

AWESOME.  Y'all may or may not know this part of the Jeff Knox story, but rewind back to May of 2007.  So there I am, in a coma, hadn't done anything for five weeks-- hadn't talked, hadn't voluntarily moved, hadn't breathed.  The future did not look bright, in fact it was a dim shade of dark.  Then on July 1st, a pet therapy volunteer brings in Cassie the Golden Retriever to come see me.  She settles in and lies down next to me.  Then it happened.  I reached out and began petting her.  It was the first signal anyone had that I was "in there."  So I'm alive thanks to doctors, but I'm awake due to Cassie the therapy dog-- at least, the way I see it.  This was a major part of why my first college major post-wreck was to become a veterinary assistant.


Fast forward to 6 months ago.  My parents adopt Riley, a very sweet ~2 year old mix between a Golden Retriever & a basset hound.  Early in having her in the family, my folks and I both expressed desires to try to coach her into being a hospital therapy dog like Cassie.


For the last few months, Riley has been a therapy dog on weekly visits to a local nursing home's Alzheimer's unit, where the residents just love on her and love on her.  So it's a good deed, but it's still not a hospital.  


Fast forward to yesterday, 10/23/10.  Riley got her Canine Good Citizen certificate recently, but yesterday... STEP 1 OF 3 TO BECOMING A HOSPITAL THERAPY DOG!  We went to a place where they do the first round of 3 days of testing.  And they're not just testing the dog, they're training/testing the dog's handlers.  So dad went first with the Ri-meister, so mom & I could both observe the test & gain more confidence.  The test included the following:  

• walk  in a pattern around some cones
• walk up to a guy in a wheelchair and have Riley stand next to him and get petted
• walk up to a guy with a walker and have Riley get petted
• walk up to a guy with crutches and have him drop both crutches next to Riley so see if she got scared
• have someone open up an umbrella in Riley's face to see if she got scared
• have someone toss a ball to make sure Riley didn't go after it
• have another dog walk around Riley to make sure she didn't go after the dog
• have someone touch her tail, ears, feet, etc. to make sure she didn't get scared

And Riley AND dad both passed!  She did awesome!  (oh yeah, and dad was there (snicker snicker))  So then I got to go-- Riley and I passed!  Then mom-- both passing!

Following the test, the whole graduating class went to a mental hospital for our first observation-- we each have to be observed handling Riley 3 times and pass before she gets officially certified as a therapy dog.  And Riley loved her first visit-- she laid down on the floor and got belly rubs from some of the patients!  She loves a good belly rub-- I love this dog.