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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.
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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.
Bill and his wife Ingrid have enjoyed owning Newfoundland dogs for fifteen years. It was during a visit with one of his Newfoundlands, Bailey, now deceased, at the long term care facility where Bill`s mother was residing that he witnessed the therapeutic effects of the presence of his canine companion. While visiting, the facility staff brought in a 93 year old woman who has not spoken to anyone since her admission. This lady was angry and was unable to accept her placement in a care home. Bill saw first hand how she became animated when Bailey laid his big head on her lap. It was much to the staff`s surprise when she started to relate her story about her life with dogs. It is then that Bill decided he would pursue a benevolent career with his Newfoundlands.
Three years ago, Bill approached St. John Ambulance`s Therapy Dog Services to volunteer. Unfortunately, the service was not active in his area at that time. Bill called on the Tri-County Literary Council in 1996 and shortly after, they set up a special program called "Reading to Rimshot". This program is designed for children with reading disability. Children who do not normally read out loud would do so as Rimshot lay quietly at their feet.
Therapy Paws of Canada
At the same time, Bill contacted Judy Sauve of the Therapy Paws of Canada to seek out other opportunity for volunteering. The Therapy Paws of Canada is a "non-profit organization of volunteers providing animal resources for human needs (physical, mental, educational, motivational, socialization) through regular visits to hospitals, residences, schools, etc." (http://www.tpoc.ca/default.asp). It is a national organization that offers an evaluation process that determines if the animal tested has the right temperament to be certified as a therapy dog. The animals are judged by their ability to relate to people, interact with other animals, and handle milling crowds and other distractions. Rimshot was such a natural that all the training needed was educating the owner. Bill was provided with guidelines and orientation to the pet visiting program. As a volunteer of the organization, Bill and Ingrid have the opportunities to take part in the on-going education seminars offered to them. They are also required to provide three references and a police records check prior to visiting on behalf of Therapeutic Paws of Canada.
Rimshot (and Bill and Ingrid) was certified and they began offering their services at the hospital, two of the local long term care homes and a Senior Outreach Program. Their visits take on various formats. At times, there will be a group gathered where Rimshot can wander from person to person and pay his visits. Other time, Rimshot will visit individuals in their rooms and provide special personal time. How do the recipients of the service enjoy the visits? I will let the photos speak for themselves.
As previously introduced, Rimshot has left a legacy of 270 gentle giants. Three of those, or close relations, are currently sharing quarters with him in the Ball`s residence: Seven, Molly and Lil` Orphan Annie. They too have joined the ranks and are providing services to the visitation and reading programs.
In addition, Bill`s wife Ingrid followed his lead shortly after he became a volunteer. Though Ingrid works full time, she visits every other weekend, doing the rounds with those who enjoy the Newfoundlands.
Volunteers such as Rimshot,Bill and Ingrid can be accessed through the representatives of the Therapy Paws of Canada in your area. The contact names and phone numbers are available at http://www.tpoc.ca/Contact.asp. If you lack internet resources, you can contact the National President, Judy Sauvé, at (613) 632-6502.
Retaining Pet Volunteers
While I was interviewing Bill, I asked for some insight into enhancing the pet visitation program and ensuring an ongoing and successful relationship with the volunteers. Bill stated that it is important to provide a good orientation to the facility, ongoing contact with staff, resident lists of those who love the visits and those who have an aversion to dogs. It is also important that the volunteers are made to feel welcome by residents and staff. Bill is telling me no more than what is our duty to accommodate. What really keeps Bill and Rimshot and the gang coming is the relationship they have built with the residents.
Other Pet Therapy Resources
There are other Pet Therapy programs that can be accessed. You might wish to contact the following organizations in your areas and develop a relationship with them:
St. John Ambulance`s Therapy Dog Services: www.sja.ca
St. John Ambulance`s Therapy Dog Services takes a volunteer and their dog into hospitals, seniors' residences or nursing homes on a weekly basis.
Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: www.ontariospca.ca/
Contact your local branch and propose a pet visitation program. At the Glen Stor Dun Lodge, we have forged a relationship with the local branch and established a monthly pet visit. A recreation staff collects a pre-screened animal and takes to the Lodge for an hour of visit.
Caring Canine: www.dgp.utoronto.ca/~irenef/td/
A non-profit organization based in Toronto, Ontario which provides free pet-therapy (dog-therapy, AAT, or animal-assisted therapy) and pet-visiting (dog-visiting, AAA, or animal-assisted activities) services to our communities in the Greater Toronto Area and its neighbouring cities in Ontario. All members are volunteers. Their visits are covered by $2 million liability insurance.
Ottawa Therapy Dogs: www.ottawatherapydogs.ca/
A Registered Charitable Organization of volunteers promoting the physical, emotional and communicative well-being of persons by offering a mutually beneficial and safe interaction with our own companion animals.
Canadian Foundation for Animal-Assisted Support Services: www.cf4aass.org/
A charitable organization with goal to build the capabilities of individuals facing physical, intellectual, emotional, behavioural, developmental, social and spiritual challenges through the use of animal assisted therapy and related services.
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Author`s byline:
Linda Geisel currently works at the Glen Stor Dun Lodge, a long term care facility, in Cornwall, Ontario. Linda oversees the Resident Services Department which includes recreation program, volunteer management, Therapy, hairdressing and porter service. She is also the Editor of the Lodger, the facility`s monthly magazine. Linda is the past president of Activity Professional of Ontario and will be a regular contributor of the feature article in the Notes and News.
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