Therapy dog makes a difference at hospice
"Many tears were shed with Buddy by her side for comfort and there was no need for words.”
STEPPING Stone Hospice staff went to great lengths to comfort a young girl dealing with the death of her father by bringing in a therapy dog, named Buddy, to befriend her.
Buddy, a seven-year-old golden retriever and registered therapy dog, arrived at the in-patient unit, in New Market Park, on Saturday, March 4, with his human dad, Joe Adlem, who is a specialised counsellor with MediCare24.
Joe and Buddy work side by side on a daily basis to help bring comfort to people, especially children, who have experienced trauma.
“A visit from Buddy was just what this young girl needed,” explains Stepping Stone psycho-social counsellor Ruby Evrard.“I met Joe several years ago through Cansa and then again at the Alberton SAPS Trauma Unit. I believed that this approach with Buddy would work.
“It’s understandably difficult for children to open up about what they’re feeling when they are about to lose a parent. It’s an emotional and confusing time for them.
“Buddy’s presence allowed this youngster to feel free to let go.
“Many tears were shed with Buddy by her side for comfort and there was no need for words,” Ruby says.
Joe believes that therapy dogs have a big impact on people because a dog is able to express unconditional love.
“Just to touch and cuddle a dog has a soothing and grounding effect,” he says. “A dog is the one companion that gives you permission to express your vulnerability without judgment; there’s only love.”
Buddy came into Joe’s life after he saw therapy dogs in action in Haiti, after the earthquake of 2010, where he worked as a volunteer. Not only is Buddy a registered therapy dog, he is also trained in search and rescue, can sniff out narcotics, handle being at sea or high up in a chopper and can even abseil!
Ruby says she’ll definitely invite Buddy and Joe back to Stepping Stone to help bring comfort to patients and families who are open to it.
“I feel even the staff could benefit from him being around, judging from the cuddles he got from everyone in the unit,” she says.
Joe says it certainly won’t be their last visit to Stepping Stone.
“It’s such a beautiful and peaceful place.”
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