| Minnesota Therapy Animals |
| Meadowbrook Nursing Home by Alice N. Persons |
On our last visit, when Lucy was fifteen
And getting creaky herself,
One of the nurses said to me,
"Why don't you take the cat to Mrs. Harris' room
-poor thing lost her leg to diabetes last fall-
she's ninety, and blind, and no one comes to see her."
The door was open. I asked the tiny woman in the bed
if she would like me to bring Lucy in, and she turned her head
toward us. "Oh, yes, I want to touch her."
"I had a cat called Lily -- she was so pretty, all white.
She was with me for twenty years, after my husband died too.
She slept with me every night -- I loved her very much.
It's hard, in here, since I can't get around."
Lucy was settling in on the bed.
"You won't believe it, but I used to love to dance.
I as a fool for it! I even won contests.
I wish I had danced more.
It's funny, what you miss when everything.... is gone."
This last was a murmur. She'd fallen asleep.
I lifted the cat
from the bed, tiptoes out, and drove home.
I tried to do some desk work
but couldn't focus.
I went downstairs, pulled the shades,
put on Tina Turner
and cranked it up loud
and I danced.
I danced.
And getting creaky herself,
One of the nurses said to me,
"Why don't you take the cat to Mrs. Harris' room
-poor thing lost her leg to diabetes last fall-
she's ninety, and blind, and no one comes to see her."
The door was open. I asked the tiny woman in the bed
if she would like me to bring Lucy in, and she turned her head
toward us. "Oh, yes, I want to touch her."
"I had a cat called Lily -- she was so pretty, all white.
She was with me for twenty years, after my husband died too.
She slept with me every night -- I loved her very much.
It's hard, in here, since I can't get around."
Lucy was settling in on the bed.
"You won't believe it, but I used to love to dance.
I as a fool for it! I even won contests.
I wish I had danced more.
It's funny, what you miss when everything.... is gone."
This last was a murmur. She'd fallen asleep.
I lifted the cat
from the bed, tiptoes out, and drove home.
I tried to do some desk work
but couldn't focus.
I went downstairs, pulled the shades,
put on Tina Turner
and cranked it up loud
and I danced.
I danced.
| Poem Reprinted with permission 8/29/2007 Annie Farnsworth Sheltering Pines Press P.O. Box 1344 Kennebunk, ME 04043 www.shelteringpinespress.com *Thank you Gregg Johnson for bringing this poem to our attention. "Let the beauty we love be what we do" ~ Rumi ~ |
No question about the role the feline team plays in the world
of pet therapy. Most of us have grown up with a cat in the
home, or currently have one. The feline teams are fewer in
number for a variety of reasons, but typically the majority of
cats prefer to do therapy work right at home. And they do it
well. There is a need however. Hospice of the Lakes is
looking for a few teams. If you want additional information,
please contact David Kettering. dnkettering@msn.com
of pet therapy. Most of us have grown up with a cat in the
home, or currently have one. The feline teams are fewer in
number for a variety of reasons, but typically the majority of
cats prefer to do therapy work right at home. And they do it
well. There is a need however. Hospice of the Lakes is
looking for a few teams. If you want additional information,
please contact David Kettering. dnkettering@msn.com
Comment: Presently Delta Society is
one of the national organizations also
registering felines. However, if you
have one of the more exotic species
or hybrids, please check with Delta
direct or one of the evaluators
beforehand. Example would be at
this time the Bengal is not accepted
for evaluation. On the other hand, a
sphinx (hairless) cat has been
approved for evaluating.
Your contact at Delta would be
Cora Bates CoraB@deltasociety.org
one of the national organizations also
registering felines. However, if you
have one of the more exotic species
or hybrids, please check with Delta
direct or one of the evaluators
beforehand. Example would be at
this time the Bengal is not accepted
for evaluation. On the other hand, a
sphinx (hairless) cat has been
approved for evaluating.
Your contact at Delta would be
Cora Bates CoraB@deltasociety.org
