Sage and Parker Love to Visit CHLA
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 have had the privilege of volunteering with Love on 4 Paws for almost 5 years. I started volunteering with my dog Sage and added a 2nd dog, Parker, as back up. Sage is a Lurcher, similar to a Greyhound, who is a very calming influence and loves to be petted. Parker is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever who likes to play catch with his toy duck or goose. Both have done an excellent job of bringing happiness in their own way to the patients, families, and staff of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.
Sage knows the routine to get ready for our visits. When I bring the towels into the bathroom for her bath she jumps into the tub. She gets so excited! If I leave the car door open, she will wait in the car for half an hour so she is sure I won’t forget her. If it’s Parker’s day to go, Sage will make sure she goes along in the car too. She loves the attention she gets at the hospital, and she makes everyone feel special by leaning on anyone who will approach. Each person comments, “Sage must really like me!” because she leans on them. That is her special magic. She makes everyone feel important and doesn’t let on that it is a very self-serving act. But hey, it works for Sage!
Parker likes to play games at the hospital. On his own, he does funny little pranks that keep everyone in stitches. He has stolen slippers, stolen his duck from my bag (Because it quacks it’s not too hard figure out the guilty party!), and he can really tear down the house when he gets his rear end rubbed and does a little stomp dance.During all this time, it is impossible to pinpoint one particular visit or one particular child that made me think that Love on 4 Paws makes a difference in the recovery of patients. Many times I walk out of room and know the connection the dogs made with the patients, in some small way, has helped those people feel better that day, and that is what counts. It truly is a gift to be welcomed into a room, have this perfect stranger accept your dog into his heart, and know that person feels better because of your pet. Thank you Love on 4 Paws for this privilege.
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