By Jasmine Stark
At the end of March, I spent some time at the PruittHealth nursing home in Forsyth, GA. I was there to meet up with Michele Dreisbach and her super sweet dog, Lulu. This team of two, visits the Pruitt Health Nursing home every week to spend time with its residents. While I shadowed Michele and Lulu, I also got to chat with some of the residents that they regularly visit.
Sue Beasley with Michele and Lulu.
Sue Beasley told me she “loves having Lulu come in to visit.” Beasley also informed me that she had a dog when she moved into the nursing home that she couldn’t keep and misses her but likes being able to spend time with Lulu because she reminds Beasley of her old dog.
Diane Stoner holding a photo of her and Lulu.
Lulu also reminds Diane Stoner of the dog she had when she was a child. “Lulu has the same face as my dog Riley,” she said. Stoner also told me of her cat, Tiger, that her niece now takes care of. As Stoner patted Lulu’s head she said, “we’re not allowed to keep pets here so it’s nice to have Lulu stop by.”
Eugene Shaney with Michele and Lulu.
Eugene Shaney, who is 83 years old said that he had dogs growing up and had a big smile as he informed me “Lulu comes and visits me once a week.”
Gene Booker petting Lulu as he watches the birds.
We caught Gene Booker birdwatching in the parking lot. He excitedly pointed out the Crows that were perched in the trees as he scratched behind Lulu’s ears.
It was easy to see the joy that the short visit from Lulu brought to the residents of the PruittHealth nursing home and I’m glad to know that Lulu enjoys her visits too.
“Most dogs can do this sort of work but they have to be trained. Some of the people we visit don’t realize how much pressure they are using or might accidentally pull on Lulu’s tail or ears. An untrained dog might not react well to those situations but Lulu has been trained and registered with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs so she knows to put up with those little annoyances.” Michele explained to me.
Michele is a tester/observer with the alliance of service dogs and told me there is a huge need for therapy dogs like Lulu. The residents of Pruitt Health, in Forsyth really love being able to connect with Lulu and there are many more residents at other nursing homes who could benefit from the same, but Michele does not have the time to visit all of them with lulu. Nursing homes aren’t the only place therapy dogs can be of service either. Michele has another therapy dog that she takes to the children’s hospital regularly and according to the Alliance of Therapy Dogs website, they can also be beneficial to bring to “airports, assisted living facilities, rehab facilities, mental health institutions, schools, hospitals, cancer centers, hospice facilities, college campuses and can also provide therapy in patients’ homes.” “The need is greater than the number of therapy dogs in the area.” Michele concluded.
If you have a pet that you would like to get certified to do this work, contact Michele Dreisbach by calling (478)718-3307 or emailing her at [email protected]
