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Welcome to Christ Church, Blacklands & St. Andrew, Laton Road, Hastings
Paws for Thought
Checking back, the last time there was a "Paws for Thought" in the newsletter was July 2010, so an update is perhaps a bit overdue.
Lily and Sophie have been joined as PAT dogs by Beatrice the Basset Hound, known in the family as Her Majesty as she rules over all the rest of the dogs. She passed the assessment tests in February this year and is now a fully qualified PAT dog. Although there are a few other Basset Hounds qualified as PAT dogs, it is regarded as quite unusual as Bassets tend to have a mind of their own and be a little more difficult to train to the standard required. Beatrice has taken to the "work" with great enthusiasm, much helped by everyone she meets making a huge fuss of her and the generous supply of treats, both approved and illicit. We visit the Isabel Blackman Centre on a regular schedule, where the Day Centre service users and staff seem to have some kind of contest to see who can give Beatrice the most broken biscuits from the morning coffee or afternoon tea issue and Gravy Bones from my supply. Beatrice has done some Dementia Care relief duties for Sophie and Lily as well, when they have been "indisposed".
Sophie has started a new regular visiting schedule for a local home for the very elderly. She has made great friends with a lovely gentleman of 102 years old who looks forward to her weekly visits and always has a broad grin and chuckle when Sophie sits down by him and gets her ears and chest stroked. Another gentleman had his 100th birthday a few weeks ago and Sophie had a special visit to his private rooms to wish him a happy birthday. One lady, who I believe is 96, surprised the staff on Sophie's third visit, as she produced a bag of "Markies" marrow-bone treats from her handbag. The lady is quite mobile and active, and had walked to the pet-shop, about half a mile there and back, specially to get the treats. A lot of the residents have chatted to us at length about the dogs they have had in the past. For several of them Sophie's visits are the high point of the week, and I have to remember their dogs' names and breeds so we can reminisce about them.
In all we do, with elderly people and when Lily "works" with autistic, special needs and dog phobic children, the benefits to those we visit and those who care for them are many and often quite amazing. Lily seems to have an instinctive knack of telling when people are afraid of dogs. Even when not "working" she will go into her trained routine, and stop and sit a little way from a dog phobic person, facing and looking at me and then glancing back to the person, then go into the "down" position facing away from the person to show she is not threatening. It can be a bit embarrassing when she does it in the middle of town in a busy street. I always try to explain to the phobic person and anyone with them that this is what she has been trained to do. One evening last autumn she did her routine as we walked past a couple sitting on a bench by the Pelham Beach lifeguard station. The young lady was dog-phobic and Lily had picked up on it in the dusk and with her sitting down. After a few minutes chatting, with Lily "down" about five yards away, the young lady started asking what type of dog she is, how is she trained and what can she do. A few minutes after that I got Lily to sit a couple of feet away from the young lady, who then actually managed to reach out and touch her back. The couple went away with a note of the contact for Pets As Therapy and promised to get a referral to a psychotherapist for proper treatment. Lily has even done the same thing in a care home we were visiting, where a member of the staff was dog phobic.
In all our work, we try to keep the message of Matthew 25, vv 34-40 in mind. In bringing a moment of pleasure and gentle friendship to people who often are lonely or feel abandoned and depressed, perhaps we are bringing a little of the Holy Spirit and Christ's love as well.
David, Lily, Sophie, Beatrice, Barney and Panther
We very often have a PAT dog in attendance at the
Wednesday morning service.