Raider
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.I first heard about Love on 4 Paws by seeing an article in the Los Angeles Times with a picture of a dog on a child’s bed at Childrens Hospital. A friend pointed it out and suggested that since Raider was so gentle and so helpful to me when I injured my knee, I should check out the program. We took an orientation class, and Raider passed all the tests to become a therapy dog. We were off on a new adventure.
Raider loves going to the hospital. When I pack his supply bag for the visit, he gets so excited. He is even cooperative about having a bath prior to leaving. Despite the long drive, he seems to sense when we are close to arriving at the hospital. He suddenly sits up and starts looking around.
The first time we visited a child who wanted him to get up on the bed, Raider was a bit unsure, since he is not allowed on the furniture at home. But after he jumped on the bed, he was so proud of himself. He just loved the hugs and the attention the little boy gave him, and I finally understood what others were saying when they insisted that “labs do SMILE”. He floated on a cloud for about two weeks after that visit. It had meant so much to him, and I know the little boy was thrilled as well, even though Raider is not a small dog and took up most of the bed.
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