VIctor passed his retest for Pets for LIFe

[smkie]

WOw did we ever have issues. FIrst he fell apart as soon as we walked into the vet's office. Something he has not done at DR Beckers or THe humane society. THo he doesnt' like it either place, he doesn't get all wild eyed and quiver. I was almost afraid we weren't even going to get to start. HE NEVER does this when we go into hospitals or nursing homes. I am sure it has to do with the vet's office, they didn't have a shelter in the small town he was picked up in. So he was kept in the basement of the town's vet clinic i think. I don't know for sure. Maybe they use the same disinfectant, who knows but talk about getting off on the wrong foot. I took my grandaughter with me as well. VIctor has some issues with her because she is a clumsy child and has hurt him in the past. She decided that this was going to be the time she was going to ignore being told to sit down and stay quiet. During the test she got up and walked about the room (i am still furious) and he was more concerned with what she was doing and exactly where she was then he was about the distraction and scary stuff that was involved in the test. I never realized how much he doesn't trust her and i am going to have to find out why. SO that was problem number two. Problem number three is that i took him to the park to run off the edge this afternoon and he cut his foot. It bled quite a bit but i never did find the source and by the time i got him home and bathed it had stopped so i didn't worry about it. I guess soreness had set in and when the tester reached for the back food he carefully avoided her touch. WHich is not good. I am a wreck. Hyia embarrassed the crap out of me and i was about in tears by time the whole thing was over, and that upset him too.

All in all he didnt' score as well as he did the first time around, honestly i thought if this had been his first test they might have failed him. THe good news is when we were walking past a doorway and the tester wearing a big scary hat with an umbrella on top jumped out at him it upset another dog across the room that set off barking giving VIctor a double whammy. He did very well and let the scary person come up and pet and touch him afterwards which they said was just fine. ITs a hard test, and i am really glad it's over with for another two years.

WE are getting ready to join the NOrthcare Hospice team. I have had my background checks, my drug screen, my tb tine test, all that is left is a day of training and we will be done. THis will be much closer to home and we can visit on a better schedule. Less drive, more openings and one on one visits making it much better for both of us.

Whew i am glad that is over. ANd by howdy is one little girl in trouble.

 

[bubbatd]

Wow !!!! What a day for you !!! I've never known of any test to be taken at the Vets and yes , shame in Hiya !!! Mine used to act up at the worst time too !! So disappointing when they do !! Good boy Victor !

 

[Renee750il]

I'm amazed, Smkie. They really expect so much from the dogs there! Honestly, they're lucky they get anyone who is willing to volunteer. They need to bow and kiss your feet. And Vic's. Just be careful of the sore one.

 

[smkie]

NO they don't honestly i worked in a nursing home and things can get really strange fast. You have to have a dog that you know will not skitter across and rip out an iv or knock someone down. THe dogs that make up the pets for life teams are just awesome. I have meet a lot of them at the parties and you never saw a room of better behaved dogs. Each one is unique and wonderful. I believe in what we do.

FOr an easily layed back relaxed dog this might be a lot easier. VIctor is high strung so it takes a lot of discipline on his part to keep from flipping out. It is probably the best thing i ever did for him. HE has had to learn to get over a lot of his issues.

I was given a paper with a report from the AMerican Heart Association. It says

Animal Assisted THerapy and Heart FAilure

REsearchers discovered that a 12-minute visit with man's best friend helped heart and lung function by lowering pressures, diminishing release of harmful hormones and decreasing anxiety among hospitalized heart failure patients. Benefits exceeded those that resulted from a visit with a human volunteer or from being left alone.

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has been shown to reduce blood pressure in healthy and hypertensive patients.IT reduced anxiety in hopsitalized patients too.



it goes on to explain how they came up with their results. I don't want to type the whole thing. I believe they throw the book at them in the test to make sure that if things go bad quickly which can happen no one will get hurt. I would expect nothing less. I know Mary couldn't do it. THe first time someone yelled angrily she would be sitting in the bathtub. SHe is super sensitive when people are upset and she simply doesnt' like all people. I don't know about Pepper yet, we are still green in so many areas. But i have always believed in Victor, he has a spark that is just contagious, he makes people happy, he entertains, he "connects". IT's a lot of work, but if only you saw what happens when we go you would know it's all worth it.

I am just glad the hard part is over and now we can relax and enjoy our visits. THe vet wrote on our test sheet...RELAX a lot of my nerves was his problem tonight too.

THe tester thought a scratch up on his leg was the problem but i know it is in his foot, i looked all through the webbing and found nothing. I think it is a puncture in the pad...where i do not know. GOes to take a better look. I will keep a good eye on it.

 

[Barb04]

I'm doing the happy dance! Hugs to you and our Vic!

 

[Gempress]

That's great news! Good job, Vic!

 

[smkie]

THe whole thing stressed me out. IT doesn't take much these days. I went to bed with Pepper on one side and VIctor, on the other side his head on my shoulder, Mary at my feet..We all sighed at the same time...one big collective stress releasing exhale. Snugged up close i felt all the tension melt away. I Know what they do for me. If it wasn't for them i would probably implode. NO wonder animal therapy works so well for patients.

 

[Zoom]

Glad he passed! Told you they were a little more lenient...still sounds stressful though! (((((HUGS))))))

And shame on Hyia for not doing as she's told...and I'm starting to wonder what's going on with her and Vic as well. I'm not the world's most graceful person either, I know I've tripped over, stepped on and accidentally kicked him more than once and I'm still one of his favorite people.

 

[smkie]

I asked Hyia how she would have felt if at her singing program instead of sitting in the pew watching i got up and walked around the room, playing with the bibles and looking out the windows. SHe said she would have been embarrassed, she would have been hurt. I said exactly. THat was exactly how i felt. SHe said she was sorry. THis is her sorry year i swear. IT's hard to be nine, my mom called it the grungy age for the kids she babysat. I would be more alarmed if i didn't see them all at the roller rink and know they all bounce off the walls. THis is map test week too. I don't know why she did it, but it won't happen again.