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Therapy News - Feb. 2011
It´s amazing that an event sponsored by Madison's largest hospitals and businesses and attended by hundreds of kids picked Billett to be on their poster. Billett... the giant dog! His legend and stories keep going.
Don Machnik (Billett´s owner)
(editor: Billett passed away in 2010 but we have some pictures of him HERE)
Therapy News - Oct 2009
Since this space was mostly devoted to Rimshot we have created a new one for ongoing Therapy Dog stories. You can now follow the adventures of Marcarpents The Rowdyman (aka Rowdy) and others HERE.
Bill Ball
Therapy News - Jan 2009
Here are some photos taken a few days ago at the attempt to break the Guinness record for the most number of kids being read to at the same time. Current record - U.S. at 76,000. Our latest count of registered participants is 150,000 across Canada, all being read to on the same day within a 30 minute period. There were several therapy dogs there, among them Molly & Seven.
Bill, Seven & Molly
Therapy News - April 2008
Here are the photos from the therapy demo yesterday. The director emailed me last evening and asked if I could come back and bring all 4 dogs ... I think not. But we will go back and bring Rim & Seven who both would fit in quite well in that type of situation.
It is an hour drive to get there so it won't be too often. Too bad there was not a newf owner in that area who would help out—they are very nice people at this facility.
It was a bit different this time. I spent most of the time sitting on a chesterfield with the residents and staff while Molly did her thing and wandered from person to person, lying down whenever she felt like it. She strolled out to the kitchen to get a drink... it was as if she were in her own home.
Bill & Molly
Therapy News - Dec. 2007
Nina, after 13 years I am finally sending some pictures of Billett. These are a few taken on December 23, his 13th birthday. Even though Billett is retired from most of his Therapy work after hundreds of vists, we are still a certified Delta Society team and still work with the Read Program. And best of all he is still a very happy and healthy dog. Thanks again for providing me and the hundreds of people who have met him with such a good friend.
Don Machnik and Billett
Therapy News - Nov. 2007
Here are some photos of yesterday's "tandem visit" to the Lodge. Tina and I got together with Molly & Caera. The residents who are always asking "Is this Molly or Caera?" were really excited to see them both at once. We will be doing this again for sure.
This is the Day Away group who come into the facility from home to give their caregivers a break and a day out for these folks. The girl in black with her hand on Molly is Tammy, she is blind and a dog fanatic. Always a treat for her to have the dogs visit .
This photo will be put into the Lodge's Christmas publication.
Mrs Butterfield talks about Molly & Caera all the time, has photos of them in her room and was (obviously) very happy to see both at once.
This is Rudy Brosseau, who is blind and cannot speak or move too well, but just loves the dogs. The look on his face says everything.
Bill Ball
Rimshot News - June 2009
Last evening Ingrid and I attended the annual banquet dinner to honour volunteers given by Glen Stor Dun Lodge. We have attended every year since starting the dog therapy. The routine is a cocktail hour followed by a 3 or 4 course meal followed by awards presentations (for long service to the facility) then some type of entertainment. We go because we are really involved with the dog therapy and the best part for us is the meal which is usually top notch and getting together with all of the staff who are all very special people.
This evening following the awards, Linda, the master of ceremonies and director of the facility, said something like - 'Tonight we want to honour a very special volunteer who is no longer with us'.
We were sitting about 2/3 of the way towards the back, and we were really not paying much attention, but when she mentioned Rimshot's name we obviously suddenly were quite alert.
There were between 200-300 people in attendance and Linda spent the next 15 minutes telling everyone the story of Rimshot's life, from his CH. to the Gander story - she even got quite a laugh when she mentioned that one year he was named Canadian Stud Dog of the year, and in his life had fathered over 270 puppies. When she got to his "second career" as a therapy dog, I thought she was going to break down speaking about the difference he has made in so many residents lives. This lady has always loved this dog and has written a few pieces about him. I think she really wanted to share him with all the people there. After finishing she called Ingrid and me up where we were presented with this really nice plaque in Rim's honour. I must say, that as the pictures were being taken, all the memories of the day we lost him flooded back.
So once again another example of why it is especially difficult to get over his loss. We have to share him with so many others... Took a long time to get back to our seats, with so many stopping us to talk about him and have a look at the plaque.
Photo follows. (If you notice his date of birth you will see that he was 32 years old when he died - always knew he was special)
Bill Ball
Rimshot News - April 2009
April 17th - 2009 - Gone to the Rainbow Bridge...
Ch. Marcarpents Rimshot - DOB: 8 January, 97; DOD: 16 April, 2009.
Always loved and remembered by Marc & Nina Cote, Bill & Ingrid Ball, and the hundreds of people he met in his lifetime.
CH TD Marcarpents Rimshot Therapy dog
Rimshot was placed with Ingrid and me at the age of 8 years. It was apparent from the beginning that he had those special qualities that a Therapy Dog must have so we wasted little time in getting him started.
Rimshot was the founding dog of the Read to Rimshot program at our local Literacy Council, where for 3 years he was read to by many children with reading difficulties. During this time he was responsible for many children learning to enjoy reading and instilled confidence in their reading abilities.
Rimshot also made a huge difference in the lives of many Alzheimers patients. Regular visits to long-term care facilities resulted in many patients actually remembering him and remembering his name and looking forward to his weekly visits. He brought many smiles to faces which do not often smile.
Bill Ball
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Not surprisingly Nina Coté, owner of Marcarpents Kennels, and Bill & Ingrid Ball, who took ownership of Rimshot when he was 8, have received a great many emails from friends and fans of Rimshot following his death.
Rimshot, the friendliest, most caring dog one could imagine has indeed touched hearts around the world via the internet, visits to the kennel and to the Balls', and as a result of his work as a Therapy Dog. He will be missed but never forgotten. See the photos below for a small sample of the genuine affection so many had for this remarkable dog.
Marc C.,
webmaster for Marcarpents Kennels and Life Among the Giants
Rimshot News - May 2008
The following is an excerpt from an article being written about Dog Therapy in general and Rimshot in particular. It is being written by Linda Geisel, the Recreation Director of Glen Stor Dun Lodge, where Bill & Ingrid Ball do a lot of therapy work with Molly & Rimshot.
The article will appear in an association periodical which is distributed across Ontario.
Graced by a Legend
When I first met Rimshot, he was ten years old. If you consider the life span of a Newfoundland is ten years, Rimshot should be retired and living the good life. This is not the case with him. After a long and distinguished career, Rimshot has reinvented himself and become a Therapy Dog. Who said we cannot teach an old dog new tricks?
Rimshot`s Career
Rimshot was born in January of 1997 and when he was 18 months old, he took home the title of the Canadian Champion of the Newfoundland breed. By age 7 (in 2004) he was named the Canadian Stud Dog of the year. During his career, Rimshot has sired a total of 270 puppies.
The most noteworthy, in my opinion of all recognitions is that Rimshot was chosen as the symbolic representative of the famed the Newfoundland dog, Gander, who was posthumously awarded the prestigious Dickin Medal, for his acts of bravery during World War II. At a special ceremony held in August, 2000 at a Hong Kong Veterans of Canada reunion at the Consul General`s home in Ottawa, Ontario, Rimshot stood in to receive the Dicken`s Medal with Gander`s handler Fred Kelly.
Rimshot Becoming a Therapy Dog
Newfoundlands are well-known for their abilities at water rescue. They also possess gentle dispositions and a laid-back attitude. These are the qualities that led to Bill Ball, Rimshot`s master to try his "paws" at therapy service...
read more...
Rimshot News - March 2008
The following is an article that appeared in a Cornwall, Ontario newspaper.
These big dogs have big hearts
by Michael Peeling
Rimshot and Molly can't help but draw attention as they hang out at the mall.
"They're like magnets," said Bill Ball, owner of the two Newfoundland dogs trained to bring people out of their shells.
Rimshot started out his volunteer work in the community with the Reading to Rimshot program. It encourages youngsters to read aloud to the dog and has been shown to improve their literacy skills considerably.
These days the 11-year-old, 150-plus pound Rimshot and five-year-old Molly are expanding their demographic appeal to seniors with regular visits to long-term care homes.
But not just any dog is qualified to listen to kids read and hang out with seniors. Bill says it's all about personality.
"The dogs must have the right personality to fit these environments," he said. "They have to have a calm demeanor and like meeting people."
A good candidate for a job as a canine therapist can usually be spotted when the animal is a puppy. But the dog can't work until it is mature, having been trained and gone through rigorous testing. Ball keeps his dogs from getting rusty by taking them everywhere, including the Cornwall Square on Thursday afternoon. Toddlers, teenagers and adults ask what breed the behemoths are and if they can pet them.
Even with half a dozen strange hands on them, Molly and Rimshot don't move a muscle out of surprise.
Every second week Bill takes them to Sandfield Place and Glen-Stor-Dun Lodge on a tour of the homes.
The residents' reactions of awe to the enormous canines quickly gives way to delight according to Sandfield Place activity assistant Sharon Tailon.
"The dogs are so big the residents' mouths just drop open," Tailon said. "When they see how friendly the dogs are, they can't help but smile. It's nice to that kind of response from them."
Tailon says Rimshot and Molly are so popular, many of the less-mobile residents make an extra effort to get to the dogs and get out of bed when they normally wouldn't.
Long before he retired, Bill got the idea to volunteer his dogs for therapeutic duty when he and wife Ingrid would visit her mother at a home in Moncton, N.B.
He would bring the aging Newfoundland Bailey, who has since passed, along on the visits and saw the positive response from residents, but remembers one in particular.
"There was a 93-year-old woman there who was angry at the whole world," He recalled. "She wouldn't speak to anyone because she was upset her family had put her in the home."
During one visit to the home, Bailey went to the woman and put his head on her lap.
"She started talking about all the dogs she had owned and smiling," Ball said. "She hated everyone, but 15 minutes with that dog changed her life and the lives of the staff."
Bill has two other Newfoundlands working on their qualifications as therapy dogs.
Rimshot News - Oct. 2007
Took Rim to therapy this morning at the Lodge. This was not the session where we go to a room to meet the "Alzheimers Day Away" folks.
Today we went on a touring visit to 2 of the floors in the facility. He was so obviously happy to be there, he was practically dancing down the hallways from room to room, and the staff and residents were so surprised and happy to see him wandering around the place.
He received lots of hugs and many treats and gave back quite a few kisses and smiles. This was a really good morning for him.
Bill Ball
Rimshot News - Sept. 2007
Rimshot comes back to the Read to Rimshot Literacy Program and also to his duties at Glen Stor Dun Lodge Seniors' Residence.
Bill Ball
Rimshot News - March 2007
Rimshot & I just got back from making his first official visit with the Alzheimers group in Cornwall. He did exactly what he was supposed to do made a lot of people smile and laugh a lot... gave lots of licks as he made his rounds through the group. One lady asked if I thought he would remember her so I brought him over and right away he laid some heavy licks on her hands and she was almost in tears as she told the coordinator that he really does remember her (actually they had never met).
The group wanted to hear all about the Newfoundland dog, so I gave them the version about the Vikings coming to Newfoundland in 1055 (?) and bringing their "Bear Dog" with them and having it breed to the wild dogs in Nfld at the time. Then the progression from there. Dont know if thats the correct version or not but its the one I like best so thats what I gave them.
We spent just under an hour with the group and when we left it sounded like a bunch of little children behind us calling excitedly down the hallway saying goodbye to Rim.
Rimshot has certainly found his calling. He seemed to know exactly what he was supposed to do and when to do it. He knew when to put his head on someones lap, seemed to know when to lick and also knew when to lie down at someones feet.
He is quite the Newf (!!) and this was quite the experience for me.
We had just come in the main door when we arrived and had not even signed in, when a worker at the nursing home came up to me and said that there is a lady on the 4th floor that would just love to see the dog and wanted us to go see her. On this day we were there for the Outreach program only but told her that I will be arranging for a visiting schedule to the rest of the facility shortly and will definitely make a note to see this lady.
Next Alzheimers meeting is April 10. I'm looking forward to that.
Bill and (a tired) Rimshot
Rimshot News - Feb. 2007
Last week Rimshot and I went on a monitored (by Therapeutic Paws of Canada) visit to a nursing home in Hawkesbury, Ontario. This visit was so that the organization could see just how he does in these situations. He did a great job. Put a smile on many seniors faces and was a great ambassador for the breed.
Schedule for upcoming events is:
Rimshot will be attending a meeting of the Canadian Council of the Blind, to be held on March 1 in Cornwall, Ontario. I will give a little talk on the Newfoundland dog and his role in Dog Therapy. This will be followed by a session where the blind will be able to meet and touch him and get to know this breed of dog.
Within the next couple of weeks we will be going to a school in Cornwall to visit a class of "Special" students. These students have developmental problems and the staff at the school feel that a visit from a dog such as Rimshot would be a positive thing for them.
Also within the next month we will be attending a "Day Outing" for Alzheimers patients. From our experience with Alzheimer patients of the past we know how much difference a dog makes with these people. Therefore, we are very excited to be able to attend.
Bill and Rimshot
Rimshot News - Dec. 2006
The Literacy Council Christmas party as held last evening. Rimshot & I were there along with about 50 of the Council staff and clients, including a few of Rims kids. Lots of Christmas treats and Rim was naturally spoiled by everyone.
As usual, Nina, you can be so proud of this guy. It was a very crowded place - lots of people milling around, lots of noise and lots of food. Not one string of drool !!! When we arrived, most were seated in the large room where we do our therapy. It was quite close in there so Rim & I stayed in the food area just outside the room along with some guests and most of the staff. The Director of the Council, who is a real fan of Rim, asked if I could bring Rimshot in and make a little speech to all, telling about the Newfoundland dog history and what Rim has been doing for the Literacy Council.
Because we had been outside the room, no one had seen the dog so when we were introduced and walked into this room of about 40 people the comments were quite amazing. Everybody was seated so when Rim walked in, he seemed to tower over everyone. I was a little nervous to start off and when I got in there I saw that Guy Lauzon, our MP, and Jim Brownell, our MPP, were there. Never made a speech to politicians before. But it went ok. After the speech, when we walked out of the room, Guy Lauzon followed us out and said he was absolutely fascinated with this breed. We talked about all of Rim's accomplishments from the Dickin award to his almost 300 offspring, to his championship. Dare I think that Rim will be the topic in the House of Commons when it comes back ?? (perhaps not)
Anyway, was a real fun evening, Rim was the perfect gentleman, and spent a lot of time licking kids faces and nuzzling under peoples' arms for food treats. One of the staff took a couple of pictures of him with a very tiny little girl. He looked so massive beside her as he had his face in hers. I have asked that she send me a copy of that one. The few kids from the therapy program that came in were all really excited to see Rim and I kept hearing one or the other tell parents or whoever that this is the dog they read to.
Tina will be happy to hear that one little girl was walking around with a stuffed toy (Rim loves those). At the TPOC Certification that was one of the tests - that a dog would 'leave it' when told to. Well when Rim saw the toy from across the room he made straight for it but I didn't even have to tell him to 'leave it' he sniffed it and just stared at it. When he wasn't nibbling on something he was staring at that toy.
He sure is enjoying him self in his job !!
Bill
Rimshot News - Oct. 2006
Today Rimshot & I were guest speakers at a Parent/Teacher meeting at one of the Primary schools in Cornwall. Present were a bunch of parents and teachers and about 40 children ranging in age from 5 to 13. We all met in the school gym.
The format was - first Rimshot and I sat on the floor in front of everyone where we were interviewed by 3 older children who were putting together an article for a newspaper to be circulated through all school boards in the area. The questions were generally the ones all Newf owners get whenever we are out in public with these dogs. Some of the questions, though, were quite well thought out and showed that these kids had indeed done some research before today. One question was "What does he do when he does the Reading with Rimshot sessions"? I said that mostly he will lie in front of the child sometimes resting his head on their lap while the child sits on a pillow on the floor. And I said sometimes he will roll over on to his side and snore loudly. Just as I said that - he did just that. Great to hear all these little kids laughing and in the background Rimshots loud snoring ...
After the formal interview the rest of the children were able to come and greet Rimshot in groups of 5 or 6 at a time. He had 2 or 3 at a time with their arms around his neck and their faces buried in his fur. And I must say that he was such a real gentleman. He lay there watching all these kids and sticking his face into theirs and licking them. Lots of laughing from the kids as well as the teachers and parents ... As we Newf owners know, these dogs, when stressed, tend to drool a little bit (?). There was not one drop or string of drool. I think this dog is made for therapy like this.
All in all a great time! We will be featured in a colour photo on the cover of the paper.
Bill (and a very tired Rimshot)
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