KaTie, CGC, TDI
This is KaTie who is a poodle mix. KaTie was born on October 16, 1999. She was adopted from the Atlantic County Animal Shelter. She thinks she is a German Shepherd Dog 
(she's black and tan) and RULES HER ROOST!
"Will You Remember Me?"
(An Original Story - By Wilt Bennet)
Some may say that a nursing home is a depressing place to visit. I can understand that, "There but for the grace of God go I" comes to mind. Although now mostly very sick, old, and in the grip of dementia, nursing home residents are our neighbors, friends, relatives, club members and really just like you and me in who knows just how many years. Most have led very ordinary lives, working hard, raising kids, and trying to enrich their lives and the lives of the ones they love by surrounding themselves with the things that make them happy and give them joy. The things that they have know all their lives are now mostly gone; they will never go home, cook a meal, mow the lawn, read the paper or pet their dog. Their "home" now is just half of a tiny room, living with a person they do not, nor care, to know.
As most of you know, I am a nursing home administrator and have been in the long-term care field for several years. Prior to entering the field, I was fortunate to discover the whole idea of pet therapy and started visiting nursing homes with our first German Shepherd Dog, Kitt. I knew that we were doing something good, and we felt great when we got home from a visit, tired and satisfied. Not long after we began therapy work, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to land a job in a nursing home. I soon discovered that we were not just doing something good, but we were doing something that had real meaning and made a real impact on very real people.Not every nursing home resident welcomes visits by strangers with strange animals - don’t we all know folks that are not "dog people?" (I’ll keep editorial comments to myself.) Same way in the nursing home. But for those residents who grew up with dogs, and cats for that matter, these visits give them a chance to pet some soft fur, get a sloppy kiss, and most importantly reminisce about companion animals that they loved and cared for long ago. We’ve all heard the stories about nursing home residents who have been uncommunicative for months and that visit with a well-mannered dog (and the person on the leash) opens up that communication process and changes the depressed person’s view on life. Well, those stories are true. The changes for the better and positive outcomes that I have personally witnessed are quite remarkable. No miracles, mind you, but a bright smile, a fond remembrance and an event to look forward to make a huge impact on one’s outlook on life.
After Kitt retired from therapy work, our Harley was next in line. With his sweet disposition and mild manner, he became the perfect therapy dog. When I got out his special red collar and TDI ID tag, he headed straight for the truck because he knew where he was going and couldn’t wait to get there. Harley retired from therapy work about two years ago, and recently passed away. To this day many residents still fondly remember him and ask for him by name. Our young girl KaTie has just been certified by TDI and will have a long career bringing pleasure and good feeling to others. Okay, she’s a 25 pound mutt, but at least she thinks she’s a German Shepherd Dog.Maybe it’s selfish, but when I’m on my way home from a therapy visit, I often wonder whether the greater benefit has been gained by me or those that we visited. That pure bond between man and dog, any dog, is so evident during these brief visits that being able to facilitate that emotional link is extremely gratifying. And, when I’m old, sick and crotchety, somebody better bring a dog to visit me!
Wilt Bennet, 8/9/01
