Fire
Please Note: The dog in the accompanying photograph is the subject of the story, but the child or teenager pictured is probably not the patient in the story.This is a story about Fire, the laziest Bouvier des Flandres around. If Fire had a wish, it would be to sleep all the time and only eat dog cookies. Shortly after becoming a therapy dog, Fire’s behavior changed. She sees her vest and her hospital bag and her ears perk up, her little stubby tail starts quivering, and she walks right to the door for her ride to the hospital.
Fire has learned to prance down the halls of the hospitals she visits. Because my husband and I take her to different hospitals, she has the opportunity of visiting both children and adults – and loves them both greatly. She visits children at Children’s Hospital and also visits adults at Hollywood Presbyterian. She has learned to “load-up” and climb into bed, avoiding tubes, casts and crayons. She has discovered that tiny hands can give the best doggie treats, hugs, kisses and tears.
One day, when Fire and I were visiting Children’s Hospital, a nurse came running into the room. A little girl down the hall was crying and refusing to go downstairs for the tests that she needed. She asked if we could come and help. Fire and I followed the nurse down the hall and heard the little girl crying loudly. Fire didn’t need to be told to “load up” – she jumped into the girl’s bed (even before I could put a sheet down) and just nuzzled up to her. One of our other volunteers, Little Dog, joined Fire in calming this little girl, and soon she smiled and agreed to go take her tests – after giving both dogs hugs, kisses, and lots of treats.
Fire also loves visiting adults, since adult patients need Animal Assisted Therapy, too. The visits are different; they are longer. Many of the patients tell stories about their pets at home or childhood pets. Patients, visitors, doctors, nurses and administrative personnel all enjoy Fire’s visits. Part of our service is to take Polaroid photos of the patients and the dogs. At first we thought adults would not want a picture with a dog. Boy, were we wrong! Everyone gets a major kick out of our photos…even the doctors and nurses.
Fire has become a welcome visitor at both hospitals; this is confirmed by the staff calling out her name as she walks through the hallways. Fortunately, no one has called the Fire Department…yet.
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