Wags for Hope
|
|
|||
| Wags for Hope is a pet therapy group started by my dog Charlie in April of 2006. (Unfortunately I didn’t start blogging until two years later.) We started with a handful of neighbors and now there are well over 100 teams visiting schools, nursing homes and hospitals in the local area. I stepped down as president in late 2009 to focus more on Kids Are Heroes. Click on the images above for other categories. | |||
 |
 |
||
 |
|||
| In the Beginning | It’s Charlie’s Birthday! |
On Charlie’s 5th birthday, we reminisce about how he started Wags for Hope. |
|
| Volunteering with your Pet |
Some things you might expect, others you may not. |
||
| Volunteer for Selfish Reasons |
I know, it doesn’t sound right, does it? |
||
| First visit to Aunt Mary |
When you visit mostly people you don’t know in nursing homes, then visit a family member, perspectives change. |
||
|
|||
| Along the Way | Wags Orientations |
During my term as president I gave every orientation and every single one was uplifting for me. |
|
| Napoleon and Dusty |
An introspective look at the highs and lows of visiting people in nursing homes. |
||
| Wags on TV |
Our local cable station did a video piece on us. |
||
| Preparing for Aunt Mary |
Getting ready for another trip to Norristown. |
||
| Pet Therapy in Hospitals |
A video depicting what pet therapy in hospitals is all about. Update: Wags for Hope did get into Frederick Memorial Hospital in 2009 and is thriving there. |
||
| Aunt Mary Revisited |
A reminder that elderly people have led very rich lives. |
||
| A Visit from a Horse? |
One day we actually arranged for a horse to visit an assisted living facility. What a day that was!! |
||
| Toast of the Town |
Our first big fund raiser to support our new program: “Wagging P.A.L.S.” |
||
| Losing a Friend |
One of our new recruits is given some bad news. |
||
| Visit to Norristown |
Another visit to my Aunt Mary. This time MaryMargaret brings her violin. |
||
|
|||
| Guest Writer Judy Gooding | Pet Therapy Stories |
Judy and her Doberman Pinscher partner Eva comprised a wonderful volunteer team with Wags for Hope. |
|
| Judy’s Second Entry |
Judy writes of her visits with different people. |
||
| Judy’s Final Entry |
Judy writes again of her visits with different people. Such heartwarming stories. |
||
|
|||
| It’s Not the End | A Bittersweet Decision |
Pondering my decision to step down as president of Wags for Hope. |
|
| One Chapter Closes Another Begins |
As I am confident I left Wags for Hope in good hands, I look toward the future with Kids Are Heroes. |
||
|
|||
