AIKEN --- Betty Minor, a resident at Azalea Woods Nursing Home in Aiken, broke into a smile when she rounded the corner in her motorized wheelchair and spotted the three dogs.
"Hi, I haven't petted you yet," the 62-year-old woman said as she reached down with an arthritic hand to pet the friendly white boxer named Gerhardt.
The 10-year-old rescued dog, with his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth in a doggie grin, is eager for the attention.
Gerhardt, along with his companions Savannah, a Labrador mix, and Charlie, a cocker spaniel, are all rescued dogs and are part of the Aiken SPCA Pet Therapy program.
Pet therapy animals visit with people in nursing homes and medical facilities. Their focus is simply to offer love and comfort.
Joanne Rittenhouse, Gerhardt's owner, has been involved with the pet therapy program for six years.
"Some of these residents get to be like family," she said. "A lot of them, when they come into nursing homes, have to give up their pets, and with some this is the only visit they get."
Down the hallways the dogs go with their owners in tow, searching room to room for someone to visit.
Lillian Lee, a 93-year-old resident with one arm wrapped in gauze because of a recent fall, grins as the dogs enter her room. She pets each animal as the dogs sidle up to her, eager for their turn.
"You can see how happy the residents are when they see the dogs," Ms. Rittenhouse said.
And some of the dogs, like 8-year-old Charlie, who was tied to a tree most of his life, have found a new purpose -- to bring a smile to the faces of those who need their unconditional love.
"They know what they're doing," Ms. Rittenhouse said. "They know they're at work, and they're on a mission."
Reach Michelle Guffey at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or michelle.guffey@augustachronicle.com.
WANT TO PARTICIPATE?
Anyone interested in joining the Aiken SPCA Pet Therapy program should call Joanne Rittenhouse at (803) 292-7075.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010. All Rights Reserved.
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What a great story!
This is a wonderful program of love, unconditional love, which all of us need at one time or another....Thanks Joanne and the Aiken SPCA for your time and well appreciated efforts..Give the doggies a kiss on the snoot for me....:-)
i have three dogs, one chihuahua i adopted from my cousin who did work with aspca and two others a dachsund mix and a mini spainiel mix who my chihuahua brought home as strays, i love this story its beautiful.
More people without animals sould go down to the SPCA and get a dog or cat before they kill them. These animals are the best therapy anyone could have. In the mean time they should check out Planed Parenthood or get there tubes tied so we dont have so many welfare receipients.
Getting a pet is cheaper in the long run then a baby. Crap you have to change the dipers. I just cant imagine, with the religious jakaskes, an american way where there would be only one child per family like China. Which I see as a real alternative. (sorry guys that means more abortions). With the price of gas we may just consider it. But then that would mean less gas usage so George W. in the long run, would veto it. He wouldnt go for it because he has to worry about the twins future. He's got a retirement plan well into action and then sum!
Tired of the Crack moms cranking out babies for $ expecting something for nothing. Or to get their fix. get a retired therapy dog instead.