Residents of Royal Gardens Apartments in Brockport enjoy pleasant surroundings and many benefits, but for a few residents, there is a downside. Some have had to relinquish a beloved pet. Residents are allowed one pet but there are restrictions on its size. Prospective residents with two pets had to decide which one to keep and which one to give away. Others, whose companions were too large for Royal Gardens, also had to find new homes for their buddies. And some residents who have lost a faithful pet friend have decided to remain pet free. Recently, however, every resident had the chance to enjoy a pet, if only for a couple of hours. Derby and his handler, Mary Ellen Hotchkiss, recently visited Royal Gardens. By the time they left, Derby had a belly full of treats and a dozen new friends. Derby, an 8-year-old English style Labrador, is a certified therapy dog. Like all therapy dogs, he turns frowns upside down with the wag of his tail. His gentle demeanor encourages the most timid resident to reach out and stroke his soft fur. And his playful spirit rekindles memories of former furry friends. Hotchkiss sat in a chair in the Community Room; Derby stood at attention at her feet. His eyes darted back and forth from Mary Ellen's face to the bags of treats on the table next to her. In a quiet voice, she gave Derby various commands. He quickly obeyed and was rewarded with a tidbit. Then she asked if anyone would like to give him a treat. Juanita Feely took the bag of baby carrots. "Will he take one from my mouth?" she asked. Hotchkiss was not sure. So Juanita put a carrot in her mouth and offered it to Derby. At first, he did not understand the game, but within a few minutes, he gently took the carrot from her. The room erupted in applause and cheers. Community Health Nurse David Samer had arranged the visit. A few weeks earlier, he had brought Derby and his handler to one resident's apartment. But word spread quickly. "Everytime I came into the building, people would stop me and ask why they didn't get to see Derby," David said. "So I talked with Susan DiPasquale, the property manager, and arranged this visit," he said. Marion Burns silently stoked Derby's back and fed him a few treats. Gerald Young had an animated conversation with his new pal. And Bernice Robinson quickly developed a rapport with the furry therapist. As the scheduled one hour visit stretched to two-and-a-half hours, Derby seemed content to meet new friends and share his limitless love. Hotchkiss answered questions and listened to stories of past companions. Some residents spent a few minutes in the room, while others stayed the entire time. And everyone hopes Derby and Mary Ellen will return soon. |
