Today we visited the VA Hospital in Martinez, we were there for about 2 hours. Every time we turned around someone wanted to spend some time with Shelby. We saw old friends and made some new one’s.
We met 3 vets that susutained injuries in Iraq that are going thru rehab, one of them was a young officer that had sustained a head injury. She zeroed in on Shelby and for the next 10 minutes talked about her dog back home and how much she missed him all the while holding and stroking ‘s Shelby head.
We met a few World War Two Vets that were setting on a couch just passing time, as one of them got up to stretch his legs, Shelby hopped on the couch and made herself at home. It was very sweet to watch as one of war heroes hand move over and petted Shelby’s side.
As we got ready to leave, a nurse came up and asked if we would mind stopping in a room to visit a couple of her favorite patients. She walked us into the room and introduced us and we sat with one of the vets he said he was so thankful someone came in to see him. We moved to the next bed and this gentleman was soundly sleeping. The nurse woke him up and asked if he would like a visit from a dog? We pulled up a chair and I held Shelby in my lap as he reached out to pet her, the nurse said, “did you see that, did you see that? He’s been here for three months and this is the first time I’ve seen him smile!” We sat with him for a couple of minutes and as he fell back asleep we got up and went back into the hall. The nurse was waiting for us and just bubbled about what had happened and thanked us again for taking the time to come out today.
Shelby was tired and she was ready to leave. After we got back into the truck, I just looked at her at smiled and gave her a hug. She slept all the way home.
At times like these I always hear Margie, our trainers words, “Don’t ever underestimate the power of Dog.”
By: krun15 on January 31, 2010 at 8:46 pm
You guys are AWESOME for doing what you do.
Shelby of course is as always the PP, but she couldn’t work her magic if the chauffeur was not available.
Karen and the pug girls
By: Peyton's Path on January 31, 2010 at 9:55 pm
Shelby~
You were put on this earth to bring smiles to people’s faces and you do a wonderful job! Keep up the good work, you are an inspawration to all of us!
Dillon
By: GerrysMom on January 31, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Oh, Shelby you are so pawesome. I totally think Gerry would love to follow in your pawprints. He loves people, but he’s not hyper about it. On walks, he’ll often start to wander up the driveways of neighbors he has met before and I have to call him back. He loves to cuddle. He needs more people than just me.
Anyway, it’ll take me time to save up for official therapy dog training, but if I can just get us through a basic obedience class (which will probably be a breeze for him, given how well he’s doing with my amateur training at home), there is an assisted living/memory care place nearby where I almost got Yoda started as a pet visitor (they don’t require formal training), but he developed lung mets too soon. I bet Gerry would love to get started there. But, in addition to getting solid on his basic commands, he needs to show a little more progress in getting used to the car. It does look like he’s overcoming that fear though, slowly, but surely!
Well, look at me, I’m just rambling on about my boy, when your girl is the star! Way to go Shelby!! You’re Gerry’s idol!
By: cemil on January 31, 2010 at 10:48 pm
Shelby, you’re so good at making people smile and feel happy. I love hearing your stories!
Mary
By: Tehya's Mom on January 31, 2010 at 10:51 pm
Shelby you are an amazing dog and much loved by all that meet you by the sounds of things! Thank you for bringing so much joy to the men that have served your coutnry so well.
By: admin on February 1, 2010 at 11:18 am
We salute the Petite Princess for spreading the love.
By: jerry on February 1, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Shelby, we know you have the magic to turn frowns upside down.
Thank you for sharing these beautiful moments with us.
By: Codie Rae on February 1, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Awwww, Shelby,
You are just the perfect tripawd for this line of work. Everybody just melts when they see you and your wonderful happy spirit could part the gloom on even the darkest of days. You and your pawrents are pawsitively pawesome for sharing the love and joy that is the P.P.
xoxox,
Codie Rae
By: Jim and Kathy on February 1, 2010 at 3:43 pm
Shelby is awesome – and Jack is OK too!!! What a wonderful thing that you do – It brought tears to my eyes. Keep up the great work!!!!
By: Mackenzie's Mom on February 1, 2010 at 7:41 pm
So moving….a tripawd hero provides service to our war heroes…how wonderful! Shelby could put a smile on anyone’s face – she is very special indeed.
By: wyattraydawg on February 1, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Shelby, I hope someday I can be as good as you are. You are my role model.