Love on a Leash Central Kentucky News

Monday, March 14, 2011

This article was posted in the National LOAL Newsletter: http://www.loveonaleash.org/news/FEB2011.pdf

Our best guess is that Emma is a border terrier mix, probably born around January/February 2009. I adopted her at the Danville-Boyle County (KY) Humane Society, April 2009. She had been picked up, scavenging trash, near the local stockyards at around 8 weeks of age. A local business person spotted her, picked her up, gave her temporary shelter and then called the Humane Society. She nearly died of parvotype complications shortly after her adoption. Emma passed her LOAL Evaluation in January, 2010 and received National LOAL certification April, 2011. Emma and I volunteer monthly, after work, at the Sunrise Children’s Home, Danville KY along with 2-3 other FANTASTIC LOAL teams; at Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center, in the Transitional Care Unit, Behavioral Management, ER; and at the Thomas Hood Veterans Center, Wilmore KY with Pat Marcum and the Lexington, KY LOAL chapter. I thank Emma for having such a wonderful personality to lead me to therapy dog work, for the nurse at Lake Cumberland Regional Medical Center, Somerset, KY who mentioned LOAL, and to Gloria Sams, Nancy Hansen and Pat Marcum of LOAL here in Kentucky who were so incredibly welcoming and supportive. Contributed by Cindy Ellsworth. Danville, KY.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Welcome Shea Baker

We would like to welcome Shea Baker and her Shih-Tzu E-oui. Welcome to the LOAL Team.

Saint Joseph Cancer Center Open House

Pat,

I just cannot thank LOAL enough! Pat/Monk, Deb/Dollar and Liz/Mister are all the talk of Saint Joseph Cancer Center patients, families and staff. Everyone is looking forward to tomorrow morning’s visit. On the last visit, I was so happy to see the immediate visible reduction in anxiety, fear and even plain-old boredom of our patients as they met with your teams in the waiting room and treatment rooms. I am so thrilled to have this wonderful service for our folks and greatly appreciate your Chapter’s community partnership in helping us bring physical, mental, emotional and spiritual comfort to our patients and their support systems.

I’ve attached a picture of my 6 year old daughter, Riley, as she met Mister at the Cancer Center’s Open House. I anticipate other photos from our Events Coordinator and will pass those along. Although I am completely biased as her mom, I think Riley’s joy in the photos captures a bit of the magic J

All the best,

Julie

Julie Case Steffey, MSW, CSW

Manager of Oncology Support Services

Saint Joseph Cancer

Center Resource Services

Monday, February 28, 2011

Central Baptist Hospital First Visit Ever

Posted by: "Pat Marcum"

Hi Everyone,

I got a wonderful email from CBH telling us that so far all the reviews about our visit has been awesome. She actually said that if they could they would all be "waggin their tails" with happiness that we were there and will be coming back.

She also requested everyone who attend to please give her their snail mail, email and dog's name. The Volunteer office has a lot but Cailtin who organized the 25th would like the information.

So could you please send me your snail mail and email and dog's name. I will get them all together and send her one big email with the information she has requested.

Also, once we are on our visits the hospital will provide a "towel" for our dogs to do paws up or even to snuggle on the bed.

Thank you all,

Pat

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Blackjack is a Therapy Dog

Former Woodford Humane Society resident Blackjack, a Shepherd mix, is now a certified therapy dog. Blackjack was returned to the humane society after his first adoption because the family developed allergies. Lexington resident Billy Fryer then adopted him. Fryer trained Blackjack, and now they visit hospitals and nursing homes to offer comfort to patients.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

February 2011 Graduates

On behalf of our President, Deb Rafclffe, and everyone at LOAL, welcome to our new teams!

Pete Clark and his golden retriever Buttercup. Pete is the father of current Central Kentucky LAOL member Lisa Freemans. We love to see families involved in LOAL!