Did you ever wonder if there is a program that brings pets to shut-ins?

By David McClelland

I really never thought there could be such a program until I was volunteering at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital recently and, when an elevator door opened, two adults and a young girl got off, each being led by a dog on a leash. Each dog had a red neckerchief with these words printed in white, "Pet the Pet."

I asked the adults about Pet the Pet and they told me they were also volunteers and this program allowed them to bring pets to visit children in hospitals and adults in local area nursing homes and senior housing facilities to boost their spirits.

The program was founded in 1998 for the purpose of providing pet therapy to children and adults using dogs rescued from puppy mills and high skill shelters. Although the rescued animals are wonderful, gentle, loving animals, not all enjoy the intensity of therapy work and these have, over the years, been adopted to homes that are more appropriate to the individual temperament of the animals. Because the supply of animals is greater than the need for therapy purposes, the Pet the Pet Program has chosen to take additional dogs for placement. All dogs have been neutered, wormed, vaccinated, heartworm tested and have loving dispositions. The cost for adopting a dog is $250.

If you are interested in more details, visit their e-mail: reverence@fltg.net.