Testa and Todd
Testa is a seven year old Doberman who has been visiting with patients for nearly four years. Lydia, a physical therapist at South Valley Hospital, called me and asked if I would bring in a dog to visit with one of her patients.
When they first met Todd was quite depressed and withdrawn and wouldn't use his prosthesis, a hook on his right arm. Lydia felt a dog might help motivate Todd to use his hook and get him interested in life again.
We started visiting Todd once a week early in September. He was delighted to see a dog and it was soon obvious that Animal Assisted Therapy was going to help achieve goals of maintaining his attention and getting him to wear his prosthesis. Lydia asked us to visit twice weekly and because of my busy schedule I was not able to do it. I did, however, ask Karen Perkins if she and her mixed breed, Sasha, could visit once a week. Sasha is a bright-eyed, vivacious little dog that has a bag of tricks designed to engage anyone who likes dogs.
Soon Lydia and Kelly, who co-treat Todd, began setting more ambitious goals. They wondered if we could get Todd to do balance exercises on a mat. Testa was willing to stand on the mat so Todd could brush her coat. She would also retrieve soft toys that he threw to her. Gradually she has been able to move off the mat and onto the floor and Todd will lean forward and brush her. His balance is becoming quite good.
Testa has two favorite things she likes to do with Todd. The first is to have him give her commands and then, whether she does them or not, he will give her a cookie from his hook.
The other pastime they both enjoy is cruising in Todd's wheelchair. Testa pulls him around the courtyard and Todd tells her to turn right or left and to stop or go forward.
Testa has had hip surgery and both of her hips are artificial. Because of this she wears 'booties' to give her better footing. The two of them are quite a sight as they go happily around the inner courtyard.
On Halloween this year Testa visited Todd dressed for Halloween. She caused quite a stir when she appeared in her bunny costume. She was wearing a pair of white, fuzzy ears, a white bow tie and was sporting a jaunty white cottontail.
 |
 |