Visiting

 


All of my Welsh terriers have visited my patients at some time or another.
They possess a stillness about them when around people who are poorly or distressed that is interesting to compare to the rambunctiousness shown by the bulldogs who greet everyone as though they are the centre of everyone ‘s world.
Today I went into work for fire training and I took the girls with me. 
Dorothy had to be left watching at the patient’s door , but Mary, as requested sat patiently in an arm chair next to the hospital bed and watched the patient carefully.
Moments later, and with permission she jumped lightly onto the bed and carefully lay down between the patient’s legs, her head resting on a tummy, and there she lay her big brown eyes watching the frail rise and fall of a chest underneath the patchwork quilt.

I couldn’t of been more proud of Mary as I was watching her lying quietly with that patient this morning.


51 comments:

  1. How sweet this is, John. The patient must have loved this.

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    1. It gave the patient something else to think about jimbo

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  2. Beautiful . Kind heart and soul

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    1. She’s a gentle dog , quite unlike her predecessor Meg who was more neurotic

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  3. Sweet Mary brought joy to that patient.

    Love,
    Janie

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  4. I thought that terriers were all a bit feisty John but perhaps it's just mine-8 terriers so far and one lurcher who could possibly visit a patient as long as there was no food to tempt her in the vicinity or she wasn't in the mood to show off her athletic skills x

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    1. Welsh terriers are bouncy and can be feisty but they reserve that for other dogs . They watch , and incredibly cuddly and gentle with people

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    2. I hope you got the photos John-I would like you to tell me if you think mines a Lakeland or Welsh terrier-the dogs home said he was a "patterdale type" on his details but I've had 2 and he's different x

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  5. Dogs have such sweet souls, don’t they? This story brought tears to my eyes. Many thanks to your Mary for making a patient feel the love.

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    1. Dorothy would have bounced on the patient like a beach ball

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  6. The sensitivity and empathy is astounding.

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  7. Darling Mary. Just being there, a warm, comforting presence. xx

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  8. Nothing like the company of a gentle, loving dog who realises just what is needed to raise the spirits. x

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  9. Some dogs do, others, like Dorothy lack that nuance

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  10. What a wonderful gift she brings.

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  11. I would love a dog like Mary to visit me.

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    1. Pay for our plane ticket and she will

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  12. Barbara Anne7:55 pm

    As a nurse, I believe all hospices and homes for children or the elderly should have trained dogs to comfort everyone there. Mary and Dorothy are good tonics for what ails folks and for boredom. Bless their loving hearts and yours John.

    Hugs!

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    1. Dorothy had to be restrained , she got over excited

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    2. Lynn Marie10:04 am

      But please always remember not everyone wants animals around them, especially when not feeling well. People who love animals often have a hard time realizing not everyone does.

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  13. Mary is wonderful! A visit such as that can help a patient so much more than almost anything else. I know I would love to have such a visit!

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    1. Finlay, my first welsh once sat with a paralysed Farmer all afternoon on his bed .....

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  14. Sweet, empathic Mary! She knew what was needed.
    Xoxo
    Barbara

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    1. During the last three years, when I’ve been particularly brittle
      She’s there

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  15. that is just so sweet. my two would have licked the person to death.

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  16. Tess my Border Terrier had that same quality - perhaps it is a terrier thing

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  17. This makes me want to cry at her sensitivity. I love dogs ( and all animals).

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  18. You have often mentioned the way a Welsh terrier watches intently and this is where we see the result of that focussed attention.
    I'm so glad you took them both in, I love all dogs but the bouncy ones have a special place in my heart and even if I was too ill to interact, I'd be delighted to see it

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  19. There are some animals who are very highly attuned to human illness and suffering and the need for comfort. I have a cat who is like that. How lovely that Mary could share her gift of caring today.

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  20. Beautiful. My daughter has a German shepherd mix that watches out for her two-year-old.

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    1. Barbara Anne12:27 am

      I know whereof you speak.
      When I was growing up, the neighbor across the street had a two year old daughter. When the child tried to venture out of the front yard, their Irish setter (Roger) would walk in front of the child and stand there to block her from leaving the grass! Roger was so kind and patient and LeeAnn was never upset to find him in her way.

      Hugs!

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  21. Isn't it funny how some animals have that ken, others have it not at all. Their personalities are just as diverse as humans.

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  22. When my Mum lay dying in her hospital bed, the highlight of her days were the visits from the dogs.

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  23. If I am ever in the hospital again, I hope Mary [a Mary] can come visit me. What an amazing thing for you to do.

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  24. Anonymous3:01 am

    Amazing, the intangibles of life. They are tuned in.
    Mother Mary and Miss Dot.

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  25. I'm afraid our Billy would just bark at them, or try to round them up.

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  26. Good girl Mary . . .
    She looks intent . . .

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  27. Good for Mary. The empathy of some animals is wonderful to see. I recall reading about a hospice cat that infallibly went to a dying patient, to the point where the hospice used the cat as an indicator.

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  28. Good for Mary..she just knows xx

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  29. My mum was in a local care home and she was visited by a PAT dog. It was quite a large dog as it could reach to put its front paws on her bed. Sometimes she managed to stroke it, others she just stared. When she died the PAT dog and another dog that visited her, both came to her funeral. As we walked into the church the dogs were there to greet us. For me it set the scene for the funeral as a celebration of my mum’s life. It helped me to remember the good days before dementia claimed her.
    Keep taking them into work John, they will bring joy.

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  30. Ok I wanted to comment but not five times!

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  31. What a beautiful story and such a loving dog ! :) x

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