The Power of the Human and Pet Bond

When my Grandmother was in the nursing home I used to bring my dog Mandy with me. She was a beagle mix, so she was small enough for me to pick up and put on people's laps. My Grandmother was always so happy to see her.

There was a male resident at the nursing home who had suffered a stroke and was unable to speak. He would sit in a recliner and watch the people go by. One day as I was going to see my Grandmother, I passed him. He saw Mandy, his face lit up and he pointed to her. I picked her up and put her in his lap.

He looked at me and I could tell by his eyes that he wanted to know if he could pet her. I told him and that she was very friendly and loved to be petted. He started stroking her and she settled and laid down in his lap. His smile got even brighter and he leaned down to hug her. After a few minutes she got antsy and jumped down. I started to leave and he touched my arm. I looked down, he smiled, nodded and mouthed 'Thank you'. I went down to visit my Grandmother and when I came back he was still smiling!

Another time, I had visited my Grandmother and as I was leaving I passed a room where there was a female resident. She saw Mandy and leaned in her chair to see her. Her daughter came out of her room and stopped me. She asked if I would bring my dog in so her mother could see her. I walked Mandy in and the woman leaned over in her chair again. I didn't want her to fall, so I picked up Mandy and put her in the woman's lap. Her daughter told me she had suffered a stroke a few months ago. The resident looked at me, looked at her daughter and then looked at Mandy. She stroked her and the woman's face lit up. She smiled brightly and looked at her daughter again. Then she said "Doggy". Everybody excitedly said "YES, doggy!" She continued to smile and hugged Mandy over and over again.

A few minutes later Mandy decided it was time to go and she jumped down. I waved good-bye and left the room. The daughter quickly followed me out and stopped me. With tears in her eyes she thanked me over and over again. I told her I was happy to have brightened her mother's day. She went on to say that her Mom had not spoken or smiled since her stroke. This was the first time there had been any spark of life in her and she just had to thank me. She took me by the hand, said "God Bless You" and went back in her mother's room.

I just stood there for a minute letting that sink in. This woman hadn't spoken or smiled in months. A 5 minute visit with my dog and not only did she smile, but she realized this was a dog and she spoke! WOW! It still brings tears to my eyes when I think of it.