Where Are They Now?
Minnesota Therapy Animals
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| Archives Our feedback suggests that our readers always enjoy these real life stories. Going forward, the site will archive Where Are They Now? |
| The Joys of Working as a Therapy Dog Team Becky and Zoey Martini |
volunteering as a Pet Therapy Team.
Zoey is a three year old Lhasa Apso that
is protective in nature, very personable,
loves people and enjoys volunteering
immensely! She loves all the extra
attention she receives from everyone she
meets.
Zoey is a three year old Lhasa Apso that
is protective in nature, very personable,
loves people and enjoys volunteering
immensely! She loves all the extra
attention she receives from everyone she
meets.
the staff, patients and other visitors enjoy her visits as much as we enjoy visiting with each of
them. When I put on Zoey’s bandana labeled “Therapy Dog Zoey”, I believe she knows we are
going to Woodwinds. When we enter a floor, the staff often announces “Zoey is here” with a
sound of excitement and happiness to see her.
We have been blessed since we started volunteering with many wonderful experiences but one
evening was especially touching. We were in the Intensive Care Area; hospital policy has since
changed to no longer allow us to visit in the area. We were visiting with some “visitors” in the
waiting area by the Intensive Care rooms when we were invited into one room to “see my Mom,
for Zoey looks like Mom’s former dog”. This lady was in the room with her very ill husband and
continued to lie quietly; when I prayed they pet Zoey. The words just flowed out, which I know
was God’s work, for I could not have done that on my own. Zoey and I then excused ourselves
from the room and went back out into the waiting area.
Shortly after that, we were approached again by another visitor to come in and see a gentleman,
who was in the room with his wife. Zoey and I entered the room and we recognized the man, for
we had visited both he and his wife previously about 3-4 weeks prior to this date when his wife
was recovering from some orthopedic surgery. The man was pleased to see Zoey again and he
continued to share what an impact Zoey had made on his wife. When Zoey and I met his wife
the first time, she was so excited about having Zoey lay in her lap for her to pet that she told
several friends and family members about our visit. Someone went out to get her a little stuffed
dog that greatly resembled Zoey (even in size and color). His wife was now sleeping on her
side with “her little dog” under her arm, for she had found comfort in her dog. That morning they
had taken his wife off the respirator and they were waiting for her to pass away. By this time,
both the man and I had tears flowing down our cheeks, as Zoey laid like a little lamb for him to
pet. The visitor that invited us into the room also found comfort with Zoey, for she told me the
stress level dropped once Zoey came into the room. The nursing staff then came into the room
to tend to his wife so we were asked to leave. I offered our services to return later that evening if
he chose. We did not get a call but I did learn that she passed away later that night.
A comical experience we had was when Zoey and I were walking down the hall to see what
patients would like a visit and we were approached by a man with his two young children. The
children were quite fascinated to actually see a little dog in the hospital and Zoey was equally as
excited to see them, for she loves little children. As she was sitting patiently letting the children
pet her, the little girl asked her father “what’s wrong with her hair?” The man and I looked at
each other with a puzzled look, for we really didn’t know what was wrong with Zoey’s hair. I
indicated Zoey’s hair, which is very soft, is basically just the way she is groomed. The little girl
responded “no Daddy, it’s her hair” as she pointed to me. It was a windy evening and evidently I
neglected to make sure MY hair was neatly combed before we went visiting! The gentleman
apologized and we both had a good laugh over this.
Volunteering at Woodwinds Health Campus is an awesome experience that I indeed hope Zoey
and I will be able to continue for many years to come. We make a special effort to try to visit on
holidays, for hospitals can be a lonely place over the holidays. Each visit is an adventure and
you never know how your visit may impact someone directly or indirectly. We have received
recognition from the comment cards about individuals that have enjoyed the visits from Zoey and
the unconditional joy that she displays. Often our conversations with patients are centered on
how we got involved in Pet Therapy and how much they enjoy having visits with our pets. This
makes for a nice “neutral” conversation which often leads for them telling me about their pets
they have or pets that they previously have loved and now are waiting at the Rainbow Bridge.
Becky Martini
November, 2008
them. When I put on Zoey’s bandana labeled “Therapy Dog Zoey”, I believe she knows we are
going to Woodwinds. When we enter a floor, the staff often announces “Zoey is here” with a
sound of excitement and happiness to see her.
We have been blessed since we started volunteering with many wonderful experiences but one
evening was especially touching. We were in the Intensive Care Area; hospital policy has since
changed to no longer allow us to visit in the area. We were visiting with some “visitors” in the
waiting area by the Intensive Care rooms when we were invited into one room to “see my Mom,
for Zoey looks like Mom’s former dog”. This lady was in the room with her very ill husband and
continued to lie quietly; when I prayed they pet Zoey. The words just flowed out, which I know
was God’s work, for I could not have done that on my own. Zoey and I then excused ourselves
from the room and went back out into the waiting area.
Shortly after that, we were approached again by another visitor to come in and see a gentleman,
who was in the room with his wife. Zoey and I entered the room and we recognized the man, for
we had visited both he and his wife previously about 3-4 weeks prior to this date when his wife
was recovering from some orthopedic surgery. The man was pleased to see Zoey again and he
continued to share what an impact Zoey had made on his wife. When Zoey and I met his wife
the first time, she was so excited about having Zoey lay in her lap for her to pet that she told
several friends and family members about our visit. Someone went out to get her a little stuffed
dog that greatly resembled Zoey (even in size and color). His wife was now sleeping on her
side with “her little dog” under her arm, for she had found comfort in her dog. That morning they
had taken his wife off the respirator and they were waiting for her to pass away. By this time,
both the man and I had tears flowing down our cheeks, as Zoey laid like a little lamb for him to
pet. The visitor that invited us into the room also found comfort with Zoey, for she told me the
stress level dropped once Zoey came into the room. The nursing staff then came into the room
to tend to his wife so we were asked to leave. I offered our services to return later that evening if
he chose. We did not get a call but I did learn that she passed away later that night.
A comical experience we had was when Zoey and I were walking down the hall to see what
patients would like a visit and we were approached by a man with his two young children. The
children were quite fascinated to actually see a little dog in the hospital and Zoey was equally as
excited to see them, for she loves little children. As she was sitting patiently letting the children
pet her, the little girl asked her father “what’s wrong with her hair?” The man and I looked at
each other with a puzzled look, for we really didn’t know what was wrong with Zoey’s hair. I
indicated Zoey’s hair, which is very soft, is basically just the way she is groomed. The little girl
responded “no Daddy, it’s her hair” as she pointed to me. It was a windy evening and evidently I
neglected to make sure MY hair was neatly combed before we went visiting! The gentleman
apologized and we both had a good laugh over this.
Volunteering at Woodwinds Health Campus is an awesome experience that I indeed hope Zoey
and I will be able to continue for many years to come. We make a special effort to try to visit on
holidays, for hospitals can be a lonely place over the holidays. Each visit is an adventure and
you never know how your visit may impact someone directly or indirectly. We have received
recognition from the comment cards about individuals that have enjoyed the visits from Zoey and
the unconditional joy that she displays. Often our conversations with patients are centered on
how we got involved in Pet Therapy and how much they enjoy having visits with our pets. This
makes for a nice “neutral” conversation which often leads for them telling me about their pets
they have or pets that they previously have loved and now are waiting at the Rainbow Bridge.
Becky Martini
November, 2008
