George walked into the staff room for the last time earlier this month, greeted with fanfare by all his friends. It was a bittersweet moment.
George, a mild-mannered 14-year-old Shih-Tzu, has been a ther
apy dog with the Burlington Humane Society (BHS) since early 2016. He started his visits at Burloak Long Term Care Home, spreading his special brand of love and companionship to residents. His dedication and young energy would later expand his horizons to include West Oak Village LTC.
But paws down, George’s favourite place to visit was Starlane, a part of Central West Specialized Developmental Services supportive living. There, George’s ears would perk up every time one woman would squeal “ohhh, I just love him!” over and over again. Seems that George was quite the lady’s man! George wore his Burlington Humane Society’s Pet Therapy bandana with pride, and was recognized wherever he went.
He especially enjoyed the visits that he did together with his best buddy, Winston, a gentle golden Labrador who was also a member of the BHS’s pet therapy program.
Together, this unlikely duo would strut the halls of long-term care homes, much to the delight of seniors wherever they went.
Sadly, Winston passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. It would be nearly two years before the suspension of the pet therapy program was lifted, and therapy dogs were again permitted to enter retirement and nursing homes. But now, George was on his own, without Winston, and visits just felt…different.
George was getting older, and needed to take his career into a different direction. Fortunately, he soon found his new niche of service. The pandemic lockdowns had taken their toll on all walks of life, not just seniors. People of all demographics were feeling stressed, anxious and lonely. And the benefits of pet therapy became widespread.
George was invited to take part in Ikea’s employee mental health initiative, and he never looked back.
Regular visits with staff would prove to be just what the doctor ordered. The staff were elated and looked forward to seeing their little buddy drain the day’s stress off their faces and replace it with smiles!
Then, over the holiday season, George experienced a health setback and realized that after eight years of service, he needed to take a step back. The time had come to hang up his leash and put his paws up. Yes, retirement. But not without a last farewell visit with all his friends at Ikea.
It was a joyous day because everyone appreciated all that George had done over the years and understood that it was his time to relax. This little gentleman will be greatly missed.
If you would like to join the Burlington Humane Society’s pet therapy family, please contact www.burlingtonhumane.ca.
We are always looking for pets like George to spread joy to those who need some.
