A few years ago, Rose Whitney had heart surgery. Confined to a hospital bed, she was feeling pretty low, when a woman walked by with a yellow Labrador retriever. The dog went right up and put its head on the pillow beside Rose's own. This was the moment when Rose Whitney found her calling.
“I just felt so good after that dog came,” Whitney said. “It just warmed my heart. I felt like I could jump out of bed and run home.”
When she actually did return home, she had news for her own dog, a Bichon – poodle hybrid named Little Boy. He was going to become a therapy dog, just like the one that had comforted her in the hospital. Whitney began training Little Boy for therapy dog certification right away, and she just knew he was going to be perfect.
“He just seemed to be a natural,” Whitney said. “He would visit with people in the hospital, and he would never get tangled up in their tubes or wires.”
Pet therapy is nothing more than an animal with the right temperament interacting with someone in need of comfort. This therapeutic contact can come in the form of petting, obedience tricks or simply being greeted by a friendly dog.
Whitney and Little Boy passed their certification test with a perfect score, and it was official: Little Boy was a licensed therapy dog. Ever since then, Rose has been bringing Little Boy to the senior center at Horseshoe Pond Place to provide comfort and affection for Concord's elderly.
“It's amazing how a teeny little dog like this can bring so much happiness,” Whitney said. She said sometimes as many as 35 people come to see Little Boy at his Friday morning sessions. “When he runs to them, their faces just light up. There's one guy, he doesn't say anything and his eyes are closed most of the time, but boy, does he light up when Little Boy comes to see him.”
Horseshoe Pond Place director of senior services Polly Fife said the sessions are a unique way to reach Concord's elderly.
“We are happy that the pet therapy reaches people in different ways,” Fife said. “If you're living an isolated life, any contact with another person or pet is beneficial. You or I probably take it for granted that we're surrounded by people all day . . . if you're living alone, you don't get that contact.”
Pets are not allowed at Horseshoe Pond Place, so many residents had to say goodbye to a furry little loved one when it came time to move in. This was simply not an option for Rose and Little Boy.
“I don't understand it,” Whitney said. “I'd live under a bridge before I gave up my dog to live here.”
Whitney found Little Boy at a pet shop while she lived in Arizona, about nine years ago. Apparently, this particular pet store sent all their puppies to a lab when they reached 3 months old; Whitney wasn't going to let that happen.
“There's one dog they're not going to experiment on,” Whitney said. He's been her constant companion ever since. Fortunately, when Whitney moved into Horseshoe Pond Place a few months ago, the beloved Little Boy was granted a rare exception.
“For me, he's not just a therapy dog, he's an emotional support dog,” Whitney said. “Sometimes I just bury my face in there and cry and cry, and it works. That coat has soaked up a lot of tears.”
