Champ Assistance Dogs: Therapy Dogs Bring Smiles
- Mar 27
- 4 min read
As we walk into Mason Pointe Senior Living, we are met with smiles all around. Holly Nylander and Linda Thomas gently guide Hannah and Charlee into the building for their Therapy Dog commitment. The minute we walk in, humans begin to smile and walk over asking if they can say hello to the dogs.
Hannah and Charlee know exactly what to do. They stand still and allow the humans to reach out and gently pet them. A few people talk to the dogs and then say hello to the humans. We meet Emma Sayer the coordinator who walks us through the hallways to the activity center where residents are waiting. It’s not straight-forward as everyone who sees us is happy to see the dogs and want to engage in conversation. Holly and Linda stop and talk to everyone who is receptive and both Hannah and Charlee say hello. Sometimes kissing the residents and mostly providing smiles as Holly and Linda say hello and ask how everyone is.
Reaching the activity center, Holly and Hannah and Linda and Charlee get to work. They gently guide the dogs to each resident, first asking, “Do you like dogs?” If someone says yes, they introduce the dogs and begin asking questions. “Have you had a dog? What was her/his name? How are you today?”
Most residents reach out and touch their silky fur as they smile at the dogs. When someone began rubbing Hannah’s ears, Holly commented, “Oh, she loves that!” And when Charlee leaned into a resident in a wheelchair, Linda encouraged that resident to lay her hands on Charlee’s head, causing them both to relax into the comfort.
I am blown away. I had no idea what to expect. I knew that a therapy dog was a dog who offers affection and comfort to people in various places.
And while I had also had a visit with a therapy dog years ago while receiving an infusion, on this visit, I was able to observe the dogs and humans from behind the scenes. I loved watching Hannah and Charlee perform their magic. I also must add, Holly and Linda were also magical. They were both calm, patient, optimistic and experienced. They both knew what questions to ask, how to guide their animals in appropriate ways to provide the most comfort at every angle and most importantly, they treated every person they met with respect.
As Linda and Charlee talked with one of the gentlemen, I observed and then spoke with him, too. He was 91 and shared that years ago, he and his family did have a dog. He was retired from a large mechanical company in St. Louis and enjoying his retirement. He seemed to enjoy the conversation as much as the visit from the dogs.
We then made our way upstairs to visit one of the Memory Care units. A number of the residents were sitting in a communal area listening to music. Hannah and Charlee got right to work visiting with the residents. One of the women recognized Linda and Charlee and Charlee remembered her too. Linda and Charlee leaned into this conversation with the resident reaching down to get closer to Charlee. Linda stayed right with them both crouching down to talk with her.
Hannah and Holly made their rounds too. The residents enjoying their conversations and visit with Hannah and Holly.
We stopped on the unit where the nuns lived as they had received therapy dog visits in the past. Mason Pointe had recently undergone a renovation, and the nuns had been moved a few times. They now had their floor complete with Chapel. We met up with one nun in a beautiful common room who remembered Charlee and both were happy to see one another.
Directing us to another Memory Care unit, we found residents in two adjoining rooms with Linda and Charlee starting in one room and Holly and Hannah in the other. As Holly and Hannah approached a resident in a wheelchair, the young nurse standing beside me commented, “He recently had a stroke and isn’t responsive.” We watched as Holly and Hannah did their magic. The nurse smiled as this resident opened his eyes and smiled at Hannah. Hannah was able to reach his hands folded in his lap while this gentleman smiled at her.
I turned to her and her smile was rewarding. “Ever think about a facility dog?” I asked. “We would love to; however, we love all the dogs who visit us!”
In this unit, I had the opportunity to talk with a resident, asking if she liked dogs and if she had ever had a dog. “Oh yes, I grew up on a farm, and we had lots of animals!” “That sounds fun,” I said, “What animals did you have?” She was happy to answer, and I was happy to have added a smile to anyone’s day.
I know the residents loved the therapy dog visit as much as Hannah, Charlee, Holly, and Linda did. On a personal note, I’ve known Holly for a few years. (Hannah, too). When Holly and Hannah were working, I noticed how much Holly sparkled. She never stopped smiling, talking, engaging the residents, and guiding Hannah in her job. While I had just met Linda, I noticed how engaged and committed she was while speaking with the residents and guiding Charlee through her visit. I learned by just being with them. Both women were professional, kind, empathetic and on top of their goal and role on this visit. In addition, we had Alyssa with us who is in training with her dog for therapy work. Thank you for your insight, too.
It was a beautiful way to spend a Tuesday morning. The humans and animals lightened my day. Thank you for including me.
Special thanks to Holly Nylander and Hannah and Linda Thomas and Charlee. Thanks to the entire staff at Mason Pointe and to Champ Assistance Dogs.
For more information: https://www.champdogs.org/
Expect Good. Defy Gravity. Sparkle ON! Therapy Dogs Brighten Our Lives!
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