NZ Kennel Club Canine Heroes - Service Category
Sophie enjoys being part of “Dogs Helping People”. Canine Friends Pet Therapy has been a huge part of her life now for over 7 years. She regularly puts on her red scarf to visit Resthomes in Feilding, Marton and Wanganui.
Sophie doesn’t entertain, doesn’t just visit, she puts smiles on these peoples faces, makes them feel happy and alive and even heals the lonely heart. She makes a difference. In Feilding she loves the residents in the resthome and hospital wings at Ranfurly, in Marton she visits Edale resthome and dementia residents and Wanganui think so much of her visits that Virginia Lodge knitted special blankets for all her puppies and for her a couple of years ago and Broadview love her in the resthome, hospital wings, Dementia and Mental Health Unit. A huge Day but she never stops w wagging her tail. They may not remember names but always remember their Sophie.
Sophie has a special quality that breaks down any negative thoughts in her own quiet way. Residents tell her stories while she gazes up at them with her beautiful brown eyes or is resting her head on their knee, some will sing her a song, some have not spoken before but to Sophie they tell her all sorts of stories. Sophie joins in games and exercises with the able-bodied. That jolly hand that won’t work will stroke her head or feel her fluffy ears. To some she is not a dog but becomes their best mate. Some are poorly but still can reach out to touch her and a drop of moisture appears in their eye.
Sophie is also a wonderful ambassador for Canine Friends, whether it is an invitation to morning tea with the senior citizens,a residents birthday, a special church service, a doggy day at Lark in the Park in Hamilton, visiting the students at International Pacific College in Palmerston North or recently she with a group distressed the Massey University students during study week. The latter being amazing as we watched the students faces transform with the patting and cuddling of our dogs. Christmas’s are very important as Sophie puts on her Christmas antlers and tinsel to bring cheer to the elderly when sometimes this is their most lonely time.
Canine Friends Pet Therapy celebrates 25 years this year. Sophie is extremely proud to wear the red scarf.
Regards Ann Evans
