therapy dog

Moments with Baxter

Posted by Barbara Techel


One of my all time favorite books is Moments with Baxter.  The 36-stories collected in this book are about Baxter, the World’s Best and Oldest Therpy Dog who volunteers at San Diego Hospice.

This book touched me deeply.  Finding the words to describe what it is like to be a therapy dog team with Frankie at our local hospice, is not always easy.  It is just something you have to experience… my soul soars each time I visit hospice with Frankie.  It reminds me each and every time that everyone in this world is beautiful.  It reminds me that all we have is the moment we are in.  It reminds me to love with all my heart.  It reminds me that no matter where you are in your life, you are still living… until you take your last breath, and you move on to the other side.  And I believe as this saying by Chief Seattle says, “There is no death, only a change of worlds.”

So with that said, I share this amazing video of Baxter at work at San Diego Hospice… he is now 19 1/2 years old and still giving so much love and joy… he is a testament to unconditional love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIrDbzoOxZc

Audio Preview of Frankie, the Walk ‘N Roll Therapy Dog Visits Libby’s House

Posted by Barbara Techel

 

It is sooo exciting to watch a book you put your heart into come alive with illustrations.  The final touches are being made to Frankie’s new book, Frankie, the Walk ‘N Roll Therapy Dog Visits Libby’s House to debut January 2010.  Victoria Kay Lieffring was once again the illustrator and she captured the essence of the book in the colors and details of the story.  I am so pleased and can’t wait to share it with all of you!  As a little gift and sneak peek I recorded a snippet of the book so you could find out a bit more what this book is about.  I’m so proud of the therapy dog work that Frankie does and the lives she is touching.

You can go to my website and scroll down to 3rd book on page for the snippet of the reading right on your computer!  I’d love to hear your thoughts.

And speaking of therpay dogs be sure and read this wonderful article I learned about from our pal, Shadrach, over at Bark ‘N Blog!  Speaks to what therapy dog work is all about!!

Frankie’s Visit to Froedert Hospital

Posted by Barbara Techel

 

Froedert hospital is a big complex in a city about 1 1/2 hours from where we live.  We had a request from Lisa, to visit her Dad, Dick, who suffered his 2nd stroke three months to the day of recovering from his first.  He was admitted to the hospital on his 72nd birthday.  He was pretty down and out when Lisa called asking if I could bring Frankie for a visit.

Dick loves Dachshunds, as does Lisa and her family.  Corky is Dick’s 5-year old doxie buddy who is anxiously awaiting the return of Dick to his home. They live about 2 1/2 hours from Lisa, so Corky and Dick have formed quite a bond.  To be apart is hard on both of them.

As Frankie and I rolled through the many halls of the large hospital, as usually happens, we were met with many smiles, giggles, and “look at the dog in a wheelchair!”  We made our way to the 5th floor and rolled down to room 15.  Dick, Lisa, her husband, and set of 5th grade twin girls were awaiting our arrival.  As Frankie strutted through the open door, Dick looked down and smiled.

What a wonderful family!  You could feel the caring and love in that room and it felt good to be there to bring some more joy.  I placed Frankie on Dick’s lap, where she began her ritual of grooming his hands and arm.  The arm she chose to groom was Dick’s right arm, of which he currently has no feeling.  As the hour wore on and we talked there was a moment when Lisa said, “Dad, you just lifted your hand.  Did you feel that?”  He didn’t. But his hand did lift and lay back down.  I said, “Oh, that must be because of the Dachshund juice.”  All Frankie’s lovin’ just might have been the right medicine at the moment.  Hope he will recover and be reunited soon with his sweet friend, Corky.

It is continually a blessing to share Frankie with others, especially those that need a little extra caring and love at the moment… to see the smile of Dick, the joy in his daughter’s eyes, the love of a family holding each other together through a tough situation.  To be a part of that circle for a moment in time is an honor.

Frankie and I are praying for you, Dick!  Be strong and keep the faith!!  Oh, and Frankie says, “Arf-a-roo!”