This morning Tess and I went to the hospital. Very soon after arrival we were asked to visit a family that was in one of the hospice rooms. They didn't want us inside, because that might be too much, but three ladies stepped out of the room and spent time with Tess. We went on. After half an hour, I was already on the other side of the floor, one of the same ladies came to me and told me they wanted Tess to meet their father, who was in the room with their mother and didn't want to leave her.
So we went all the way back and entered the room. The father was in one of the corners, close to the bed, difficult to reach, with other family members around him. Usually Tess needs to meet everyone, but now she went straight up to the gentleman, put her head in his lap and stayed there for at least ten minutes, oblivious of all the other people who wanted her to come. Then the gentleman said: I'm ok now, and she stepped away, said goodbye to the rest and out we went.
I was amazed that she went up to him straight away. She doesn't like cramped spaces and always wants to meet everyone. But now, without any coaching, she went to the person who wanted to see her most. Amazing how they feel where they are needed...

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Dang, this made me cry. Dogs are the most wonderful creatures and Tess sounds like an amazing girl.

How did you get her into this kind of program? We're very interested in getting our new puppy into something like this when he gets to be old enough. It sounds extremely rewarding.

Sounds like a difficult but rewarding visit.

It is amazing but they can sense who needs comfort. I think that they're very sensitive to and can read people's body language and facial expressions. I also think maybe they can smell different emotions emanating from people. Sounds a little far fetched but I believe it. In that regard, I've been interested to follow how Loisiana is teaching Flip to sense the smell of low blood sugar.

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Zoe, Rockwall Nantucket Breeze, BN, CGC, Delta therapy dog
Zeke, our introduction to the world of Golden Retrievers

That's amazing. Tess sounds like a very, very special dog.

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Karen, Chance, Lucy and Savanah RB



“Everyone needs a dog to adore him, and a cat to bring him back to reality”

I basically did a lot of obedience with her: puppy class, obedience beginner, obedience advanced, the CGC test, agility 1 and 2, and then the Delta Therapy dog classes. She was 1 1/2 when she did her Therapy Dog test. And then we just looked around for places to visit. I always wanted to visit my local hospital, because they do such good work and - not unimportant...- they have a very good therapy dog program there. We started last year after summer. We now go to two or sometimes three hospitals in a week.

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What a lovely story about Tess. Thank you for sharing. She sounds like such a sweetheart. And you are a sweetheart too for taking so much time to share her.

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Tess is indeed a very special girl.
It must have meant so much to that man and his family to meet Tess!!
I think dogs are Guardian Angels in fur coats!

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[IMG]http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii215

Tonka & Tucker

SNOBEAR at the Bridge
Dec. 23, 1999-March 27, 2010


SMOOCH at the Bridge.
Feb. 14, 1999-Dec. 7, 2010

I experienced something similar with Brady, even though he is not a therapy dog.

Last year Brady needed lifesaving surgery because of an obstruction. The surgery was done at a Blue Pearl emergency / specialist clinic. They had to remove part of his intestines and go through his stomach.

On the morning I went to pick him up, he was right be my side on his leash, and very drugged up. He is usually very needy when he is at the vets. I am getting all the directions from the vet, paying the bill, going over all the paperwork, when I notice he is no longer by my side. He had gone up to this elderly man that was sitting alone in the waiting room. He had planted himself between the man's two legs, and the man was bent down over him, patting and hugging him in silence. I let him be until I was finshed, and then called Brady to me. The man responded, "Thank you for sharing him."

This breed just keeps on amazing me.

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Wow,two amazing stories (Tess' and Brady's). I am constantly telling people that goldens are half-human and you've both reinforced that idea.

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[SIGPIC]

Your story brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for sharing that with us.

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Loving My Girl Sadie

"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive."
- Gilda Radner