A Bittersweet Decision

Posted by Gabe on September 11, 2009 under Wags for Hope | 2 Comments to Read

In early 2006 my dog Charlie did something really special.  He founded a local pet therapy organization called Wags for Hope here in Frederick, MD. I will never forget the instant that this group was born.  We had been visiting a local nursing home for about two years when our curiosity got the best of us.  We wondered what it would be like to try another location.  Charlie is a 120 lb. Bernese Mountain Dog who is a tad intimidating to some at first, so I wondered what kind of reception we would get.  As we walked through the doors of the assisted living facility, the nurse announced us over the loudspeaker: “There’s a huge dog out here in the lobby!”  All of a sudden I looked down both hallways and saw doors opening.  Walkers and wheelchairs appeared from all over and slowly converged on him.  Charlie sensed my nervousness and immediately sat down – he looked right at me as if to say “Don’t sweat it – I’ll take care of this one!”

He sat calmly and patiently let everyone dote over him.  It was an amazing sight.  “When are you coming back?  When will we see Charlie again?”  Wow!  I have to get people to help me do this, I thought.  That was the instant that Wags for Hope was born.

Three years have passed and I have been president of the organization ever since.  Wags for Hope is a 501c3 non-profit organization boasting well over 100 members visiting people in nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities and elderly day care centers in four counties in Maryland and West Virginia.  Volunteers are also taking their dogs to schools helping kids learn to read by allowing them to read to their dogs.  They visit disabled children at another facility.  WFH has even started a new program called “Wagging PALS” where they match shelter animals with seniors living alone.  You won’t find a better bunch of people – anywhere – period.  Everyone at that organization is a volunteer.

The bittersweet decision I recently made was to step down as president of Wags for Hope.  I obviously have a lot invested emotionally in this organization, but I realized I was doing the group more of a disservice by remaining on.  Our work with Kids Are Heroes has engulfed my existence in the last year and things were simply not getting done on the Wags for Hope side.  Our board met this week to plan out a new path for the organization and adopted an interim president.  Her name is Meg and I couldn’t have hand picked a better person to take this organization to the next level.  I brought all the issues I saw to the table and the board members were very quick to suggest solutions.  I feel very confident that not only will Charlie’s legacy be upheld, but that this group will benefit and thrive as a result of this change.  Wags for Hope has an extremely bright future.

I plan to stay on to help bridge the transition as best as I can for as long as is needed.  I will still take Charlie out to visit under their umbrella from time to time as well.  I even plan to enter him in their pet fashion show at the FSK Mall in May of 2010. Haven’t selected his outfit yet…

If you have an animal and you would like to share him or her with others, I highly encourage you to seek out a local pet therapy group.  In my experience, the volunteers gain as much if not more than the residents do.  There are plenty of ways your dog can get involved and the feeling of having your animal put smiles on so many faces of others is priceless.