[Dailydrool] Bassets as Therapy Animals

[Peggy Chudd]

Basset Hounds are GREAT Therapy Dogs!

We have three therapy dogs in our home.  Waldo, our first, is retired
(now age 15 1/2 years).  Grace is in her 5th year and Beatrice in her
2nd year of spreading that Basset cheer.  We visit with young people,
older folks, and everyone in between.  Our primary facility is the
University of Utah Hospital.  We're allowed to put our hounds on the
beds with the patients if they wish.

Last week we received a call to visit with a 23 year old gentleman
who was in his final hours of life.  Beatrice sat on a chair right
next to his bed and held very still while we put the  man's hand on
her head and wrapped her ear around his fingers.  For the few moments
he was able to hold on to her ear he smiled.  She stayed on that
chair for nearly 45 minutes, watching his face most of the time. She
was very calm about it; I'd never see her watch a patient like that
before.  It was like she wanted to be right there in case he opened
his eyes again.  Beatrice is our very most patient basset and was not
the least bit uncomfortable or "fidgety" while sitting at his side.

This afternoon we will be making visit to the Burn Unit of the
hospital and spend time with a five year old who is missing his dog
at home.  One of the other ITA teams emailed last night and said that
she and Carlos (her delightful 3 year old Mini Bull Terrier) visited
him and he was only slightly interested...he missed his Basset Hound
too much.  I've no doubt he'll be happy to see us...or should I say
our hound.  We all know we''re just along to hold the leash.

I've been with Intermountain Therapy Animals for nearly 10 years.
Our group has had seven "Therapy Bassets" as members in that time.
We currently have nearly 200 members, most with dogs in our group,
so not a lot of bassets...but enough to get the jobs done.

We visit in every area of the hospital and also at Huntsman Cancer
Institute which is affiliated with the U-Hospital.  We also do school
presentations on how to be safe around dogs and what Pet Therapy is
about.  Grace particularly likes these visits as she can move around  
more and gets to
kiss all the kids, if they want.  ITA teams visit over 90 facilities  
around the
Salt Lake area and receive a call almost every day with others  
wanting visits.

Basset are great Therapy Animals.  I wrote a piece for the DD a
couple of years ago about bassets passing the test required to be a
therapy dog.  I'm also an evaluator for our group.  They do just
fine.  Our Waldo took a "bit" longer to go into the down position,
when asked to during the test.  Didn't do it as fast as a Golden
Retriever, but he did just fine.  When re-testing one time he
actually started to yawn while going into the down.  But he did it
the first time I gave him the command.  And stayed until I asked him
to get back up.

Waldo was voted Therapy Animal of the Year in 2002.

Enjoy your visits all you Therapy Bassets!

Peggy Chudd