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Oakley, Marley, Wesley and Pets as Therapy
Gosh. Where to start? I have known Sally for a year now, and so much has happened in that time. But here goes...
It wasn’t until I was already volunteering to do the Library Trolley rounds at my local Rehabilitation Hospital that I came upon an organization called ‘Pets As Therapy’.
For those who don’t know, Pets As Therapy oversees volunteers who visit homes, hospices and hospitals with animals for those who wouldn’t otherwise get the opportunity to stroke something fluffy and waggy. It is a lovely thing to do, and the patients in our Rehabilitation Hospital - some of whom are not very responsive to people - get a lot out of it.
Having two very friendly, very waggy cocker spaniels at home, I decided that I would like to have a go.
As you’d expect, the pets - who are mostly dogs, but there are a few cats and a few rabbits - have to pass an assessment of their suitability to work as a P.A.T. animal.
My dogs - Oakley aged 9 and Marley aged 7 - whilst totally friendly and reliable with people, were very excitable (growing up in a house full of teenagers rubs off!) and generally took life at 100 mph - jumping up at people they were excited to meet, and not walking calmly beside me on the lead.
Oakley & Marley
So we needed help!
That is when I was put in touch with Sally Barnes - who at that time was also doing P.A.T. visits at the Rehabilitation Hospital.
The dogs responded to her no-nonsense ‘pack leader’ approach instantly, and within a very short time we had them much more settled and behaving better. Thankfully, I was able to cotton on quickly to what Sally was saying, and take over the reins that she had so expertly made for me!
We quickly made really good progress, and were ready to take our P.A.T. dog exams when Oakley suddenly fell ill. Investigations showed that his liver was full of tumours and the dear little chap had to leave us. We were totally shocked and mortified. He left such a gap in the family.
Having said that, Marley was not unhappy as an only dog. In fact, in my weakened grieving state, he was starting to get a bit above himself. Not in an agressive way, but just in a taking liberties kind of way. Not good.
So I decided that he should have a younger brother to ‘keep his paws on the ground’. I knew that he wouldn’t want him. But I thought that I was prepared for that...
So, herald the arrival of young Wesley. 10 weeks old, chocolate roan cocker spaniel. Everyone thought that he was totally gorgeous.
Everyone except Marley, that is...
He hated Wesley’s intrusion into the family. He growled at him if he came near, and didn’t want anything to do with the little chap. Then, on day four of Wesley’s life in the Jones family, Marley bit him.
Oh my good heavens. The turmoil that I was thrown into. Not only did I feel terribly guilty that I had allowed it to happen, but I had to ask myself if that now called into question my wish to do P.A.T. work with Marley? I didn’t even know he had a bite in him.
After that, there seemed to be a succession of horrific stories in the news of people being attacked and even KILLED by dogs. Not just small children either. One poor girl was 14 years old and she was killed by her friend’s dogs. Absolutely terrible.
It was at this time that life’s stresses got on top of me. Not just the situation that I now had with the dogs, but lots of other things too. Mainly to do with wind turbines that we’ve been fighting for four years now, but I shalln’t go into all that. Needless to say, I had run out of stress-fighting steam, and things came to a head. Again, I needed help!
So, we called in the cavalry (Sally) to help me solve the problem of Marley not being accepting of Wesley. After a couple of visits, things were improving. Sally put me straight (it’s always the owner you know!) - in my grief at the sudden loss of Oakley, I wasn’t being a strong enough leader for Marley. I felt such relief when I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. It took a little effort, but we got there and they were soon playing together in the garden, and sharing a basket in front of the Rayburn.
Wesley was now totally smitten with his older brother, following him everywhere, and copying what he did. Which was very helpful - most of the time!?! He became the little brother that I had intended him to be. Hanging off Marley’s ears, biting his ankles and generally teaching him all those invaluable lessons about tolerance and patience and, most important, that what Mummy wants Mummy gets!
However, we now had another problem. Wesley, for all his exuberance at home, was frightened of dogs that he didn’t know. Unfortunately, it was the one thing that he didn’t copy his brother in! If approached by a strange dog when we were out, he would kick up an awful fuss. A mixture of growling/ barking/crying. A terrible din that I was afraid would make the other dogs attack us. This fear was being further fuelled by my generally over-stressed state and yet more horrendous dog-related stories in the news.
Again, we needed help!
So, as my husband said (a la Ghostbusters) .. “Who you gonna call?!”
This picture says it all...
And so the story goes on. Marley passed his P.A.T. dog exam with flying colours and we are now doing Pets As Therapy visits at the Rehabilitation Hospital. He makes me proud every week.
Marley and I are also working together to bring up Wesley to be a happy, well-balanced dog who, one day, will be able to join his brother in spreading doggy-love on the wards.
Wesley & Marley - brothers
None of this would have been possible without Sally’s help. She has seen me through what turned out to be the most difficult twelve months of my life. One crisis after another was dealt with swiftly. No option. It WILL work ! And, needless to say, I now consider her to be a true friend.
If you have a doggy problem that needs fixing, she CAN sort it. I wish you lots of luck... not that you’ll need it.
Now... “Who you gonna call?!”
Mrs Nikki Jones Warwickshire