🎵 Scooby-doo-bee-doo…ooh baby…oops, wrong opening chorus. Hi-ya…Sam here. While I can’t sing this post, I can share some of the adventures from last week in my triumphant return to hospital and West Pines. Now that I’m finally back to 110% it was nice to get back in the saddle and visit with my friends.
Naturally mom said I had to be spiffed up. Ugh…not a bath, mom!! Seems like the nurses like a sweet smelling boy so I didn’t mind too much when she put a blend of relaxing essential oils on me after the bath. Chicks seem to dig that and well…when there are hugs and “atta boy’s,” how can I refuse?
It only took a few nanoseconds for me to remember some of my favorite peeps who I’ve regularly visited in the past. Mom thought we should go visit the Lab and soon there was a crowd of the regulars welcoming me back. One of the managers is a favorite of mine so I spent a long time visiting with her. I sure have missed her so it was a great way to start out what would end up become a long shift.
After our swing through the Lab, we made it down to the surgical reception area for another memorable visit. I like going through this area providing comfort to peeps waiting for their loved ones to get out of surgery before moving up to their rooms. One lady with a mini-peep tagging along lit up like a candle when she saw me. She told my mom they loved us poodle-y dogs. What I loved was her mini peep…a twenty-two month old granddaughter who was exactly my height and the two of us had a great time visiting. She had this weird thing in her mouth (mom said it was a nuk) that I was kind of interested in at first but realized the chubby little hands that pet me ever so sweetly were much better than some slobbery chew toy. I spent a long time with her and her grandma was very happy for my therapy.
I had a lot of dates with nurses encounters all over the hospital and it all began to come back to me. The ladies in the gift shop were as nice as always and told me about their summer adventures. I listened and wagged my tail at all the right times. They seemed to appreciate my listening skills. They were equally impressed I remembered where the treats are stashed.
The next day we went to West Pines. The director who shepherds us around to the various buildings on campus is one of my favorite hospital peeps. When we arrived at the first building, it was like I’d never been away. A number of patients were super excited to see me. They asked me all sorts of questions…how old was I, what was I, you know, stuff like that. I was the ‘pawfect’ gentlemen and let them all hug me and tell stories about the dogs that were in their life. Then there was one woman who just sat back on the other side of the room and watched me. When mom asked her if she’d like to pet me, her face lit up with a huge smile. I pranced sauntered over and sat in front of her and looked her in the eye. She began to talk to me and that made my tail wag. Her fingers were soft and gentle on my ears as she pet me and we both relaxed like old friends. When it came time to leave, mom offered her hand to shake and wish her well but her arms withdrew and her head turned, much like a turtle. Her face grew dark as she looked away. Clearly she has issues with people and touching and it left me sad. Everyone likes my mom but the patient only had eyes for me I guess. Hopefully the staff will help her learn to trust again, in others and in herself. I liked visiting with her.
All the way home, mom just couldn’t get over that young woman. The pain in her eyes when she folded up on herself left her very sad. It seemed my therapy work wasn’t over even though we left the hospital. I wanted to give mom some therapy when we got home. I stayed with her and she pet me. Whenever my tail wagged, she’d smile and say I was the bestest boy in the world. All the attention she gave me really cheesed Elsa off but I knew mom needed cheering up. She kept whispering “but for the grace of god, there go I.” Not sure what she meant by that, but was glad I could be there for her when she needed me. Ater making her feel better, I relented played with the Ninja and then took a nice long nap. It sure felt good…both the making peeps smile part as well as the long, rejuvenating snooze. Life is good around the Ranch and this work makes us really aware of that.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Sam your work is pawsitively wooftastic 🐾
What a wagnificent good dog you are🐾
💜nose nudges💜
Great Idea and thoughts..
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So fabulously written. Felt like I was there 🙂
Aww, thank you. It was quite the welcome back. I’m looking forward to our next visit. 😍
Such great visits to get back at it .
Thanks; it was nice being back.
Sam, you are such a hard working boy! How sweet that you did all that work and then came home and took care of your Mom and sister as well. You sure earned that nice snooze! ♥♥♥
He’s a real sweetheart. And sometimes a real pill. 😉 But boy do we all love this knucklehead.
You must be exhausted after such a busy day. Overall amazing way to express your feelings keep us updated.
Mew mew mew Sam may mee give you a *kiss* upon yore cute nose?? Yore such a pawsum Furapee doggie! You WOW’ED efurryone even yore Meowy!
You look pawsitivelee REE-GAL inn yore ferst photoe!
Concatualtionss on a job well dun an wee hope you can go back many many more timess!
***purrsss*** an a *kiss* BellaDharma
Thanks dear kitty. It’s a good job to be back doing and hope we can bring some smiles to others in the future.
You must be exhausted after such a busy day, Sam and dates with the nurses, huh…MOL… I wish my little twofeet brothers and sisters were still little, on the other hand, they never have been so little as me, not even when they were born…MOL 😀 Pawkisses for a wonderful day and sweet dreams🐾😽💞
Sweet dreams, Binky and have a terrific weekend.
A therapy pup’s job is never done!
Boy, ain’t that the truth!
Sam we are glad to hear that you are back to doing your wonderful work
hugs
Mabel & Hilda
Thanks…it felt good to be back.
Great to see that Sammy has his mojo back!
He’s back to normal knuckleheaded-ness.
“but for the grace of God, there go I” is my prevailing sentiment as well.
But good deeds heal those in need in ways seen and unseen. 🙂
We sure hope for tender healing for anyone who needs it.
You do such great good work, the both of you. ❤️
Thanks. Sam is the real hero here. I just make sure the car is gassed up 😉
Hahaha! A dynamic duo if ever there was one!
You’re very sweet to say that. Thank you!
🙂
I use essential oils, like the 10W30 that my peep puts in the crankcase of the Scottiemobile every 3,000 miles.
The work that you do is remarkable and I hope you get to visit with the young woman again. You could be the key to open her “dark” door.
Let’s hope so.
If I was in hospital I would love to be visited by a therapy dog. I think you, and all your companions, do a fantastic job. We have therapy dogs in Adelaide but – as far as I am aware – we have none in the hospital here. Very sad about that young woman but I think you were able to bring her some comfort. I agree with you Sam, a Gentledowg, doesn’t (kiss) pet and tell :o)
So glad somebody else thinks so! 😆
Sam, once again you did a great job – sounds like your visit was just was the big and mini peeps needed.
Woos – Lightning, Misty, and Timber
Thanks, I really love little kids, especially little girls. Maybe because they often grow up into nurses. 🥰
Dear, dear Sam, like Lexi, you were also given to your Mom to spread joy in this world.
So, at West Pines they have been pining for you, right? 😉
It was a case of mutual admiration 🥰
Your mama is right, S. You ARE the bestest boy. You helped the saddest of sad people. Such important work. Well done, buddy.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
She’s biased so that might be not be fair especially when I’m a knucklehead. 😄
Oh Sam, you REALLY are the bestest boy – giving your Mom therapy when she needed it most!! ❤️
She really does need therapy! 🤣
Sam, you are SERIOUSLY the most eloquent woofie that we know. You wrote this beautifully! So tell me more about those “dates” with the Nurses (just kidding!!!!!). My Mom remembered when she had one of her countless lithos, she and Dad were waiting for her to be called in and they were in the reception area at the hospital (surgical reception like you were at)…..a nice service woofie came by and boy oh boy did that dog make Mom smile! You do soooo much good for others Sam, it warms my Sheltie heart (and Mom’s heart too). That was sad about that one person though. You did great Sam and you should be proud of the way that you and your dear Mama give back to others. Just one of a zillion reasons why we love you! Barks and licks and love, Dakota
For us therapy dogs it just comes naturally.
I promised I would divulge and ‘date details.’ 😍
You did a great job with everyone you met on your visits and at home with your mom.
I keep hoping there are more treats for all that work-mom is stingy sometimes.
Sam. All you can do is your best – and you did. Glad that you recognize the importance of smelling fresh for the ladies. That’s always a good thing. As for Mom, did you give her a beer?
Truth be told, I think mum was too tired for a beer. But she did give me lots of ear rubs which seemed to make her feel better but I’ll remind her to have one tonight.
Well done, Sam!
So amazing how animals can make meaningful connections with people who have issues that make it difficult to connect with other humans.
It really is something to see up front and personal like that.
<3
In retrospect it must have been wonderful to watch Sam and that young woman interact. Thanks for sharing.
It was something we won’t forget any time soon.
I can imagine.
It’s a good reminder how to approach peeps at West Pines so they don’t feel threatened.
If I am ever in a West Pines-type place I hope I have a Sam-type visitor.
We’d love to visit you if we could.
I’m still learning how touch can be safe, and I’m old. Scars are often not seen but felt, glad she could accept Sam’s touch. Good that you approached her and good that she let you.
She’s the first who reacted that way in all the years we’ve been doing this. Just glad Sam was able to bring her a few moments of safe peace.
Sam does such wonderful work and so do you. God bless that woman. Sending her big healing hugs.
Have a fabulous day. Scritches to the pups. ♥
Sam is the real hero. My boy brings such joy to those he meets without judgment.
Sam happy to see people, people happy to see Sam…even that poor lady opened up for him.
It really touches mom when I make peeps smile. Pfft…for me it’s easy…I just do what I’m good at. 😍
oh sam that was so nice that you talked with that woman… you have a heart of gold… and please tell us all about da dates with da nurses ;O)
AI may be a ‘dawg,’ but I never kiss and tell. 😉
Sounds like a day well spent all the way around!
It was a good day…for us and those we visited.