Cheer Up The Lonely

Did you know that July 11th is National Cheer Up The Lonely Day?

Pets bring such joy into people's lives. One of the Comfort Care Therapists on the team at Providence Hospice in Olympia, Washington, Anne Howie takes her trained dogs to various locations to make this connection between dogs and humans.


There is something very special about how the presence of a dog melts the heart and soul of those who come into contact with them.

Today, bring a smile to someone who is lonely.

Therapy Dog

I came across a book, Moments with Baxter by Melissa Joseph, which definitely pulls at your heart strings.

Baxter was a Therapy Dog at the San Diego Hospice and the Institute for Palliative Medicine. Baxter helped hundreds of patients ease out of their lives with dignity and peace.

Melissa rescued Baxter when he was two years old. Her rehabilitation technique was to take Baxter everywhere with her which eventually lead to joining her as a hospice volunteer.

Melissa and Baxter
The book is a collection of 36 touching, true stories between Baxter and the hospice patients and their families and friends to whom he brought comfort and love. According to Melissa, Baxter had a calmness and a resolve about him, and an intuitiveness that would take the most intensely negative situation and literally turn it into complete serenity.

Watch a video about this very special dog at nineteen still helping others.

Dog Appreciation

Have you stopped recently to appreciate what your dog teaches you?

Yes, our dogs teach us many things.

I will start with unconditional love.  Every dog owner knows the exuberant greeting received each and everytime you come home.  You do not even have to leave home to be greeted with such love; just call your dog's name in a happy voice and she is there radiating affection.

Dogs teach us the experience of joy. Every morning as we begin our walk, Ebony is bounding with pure joy. She reminds me that life is to be joyfully experienced no matter what.  Do you find joy in your life and allow it to flow through you?

Dogs have been considered the servant of humanity throughout history. A reminder of the importance of serving others or humanity in some way.

A dog embodies the loving gentleness of best friend and the half-wild protector energy of territorial imperative. They have that ability to sense postive or negative energy.  Are you aware of vibrational energy?

Dogs can be comforting and a companion when needed.  They are healers in the true sense just by their presence.  Our Comfort Care Therapy Progam at Hospice has a Animal Assisted Therapist on the team.

Dogs can put a smile on your face through action or deed.  They can be outrageously funny.  A great reminder to laugh on a regular basis.......it is good for you!

STOP what you are doing right now.
  Tell your dog, THANK YOU!