MAC generally believes that the doorbell is a personal signal to him that someone has arrived to see him; or bring him pizza; or enquire as to whether he believes in God.
Today, however, it really is someone to visit him. On the other side of the door is James Macdonald who works for Therapet, an animal therapy service run by Canine Concern Scotland Trust, a charity established in 1988. He is here to assess whether Mac has what it takes to be a therapy dog.
As soon as the door opens James is taking in how Mac responds to a stranger crossing his threshold. Mac, true to form is up on his hind legs, tail wagging to greet him. As we all move into the lounge, Mac does a few delighted circles before giving James a good old sniff and scrabbling around for his favourite toy to show him.
James, a retired fireman, has been involved with Therapet for more than 20 years and has volunteered at the Prince and Princess of Wales hospice in Glasgow with his own dogs, most of which have been from rescue centres. As an area representative, he vets potential volunteers and their animals and matches them with the various hospitals, care homes, secure units and hospices which offer the service.
Once they are out volunteering, the owner is encouraged to keep their pet under control but is asked to take a back seat; the real interaction is between animal and patient.
Many long-term patients may have had to give up a dog to come into hospital or a hospice and appreciate being able to spend time with an animal. For some, it brings back happy memories of pets they once had and for others it is just a friendly visitor which doesn’t require them to talk.
“Sometimes, a person will not have interacted with any of the staff for a long time and a dog will come in and they will pat it and ask questions about it.”
As James explains how the service works, Mac quickly settles and eventually wanders into the garden. While this is a good sign, I can’t help praying that one of the neighbourhood cats doesn’t pick this minute to stroll across the garden. One flash of feline fur and he will be off like a shot.
James explains that any breed can be a therapet but not all will pass the test. “If a dog is up around my neck the whole time, that is not appropriate. Some owners will say, if a dog is being slightly agitated, that he or she is fine once they get to know a person and obviously that’s not going to work. Nor will a pet that doesn’t like to be touched around the ears, for example.”
James is looking for dogs which are friendly and settle very quickly after meeting a new person. “We are looking for animals with a good, even temperament which don’t spook easily. For dogs which will work with children, they need to be ‘bomb-proof’”.
Before he leaves James proclaims Mac worthy of being a Therapy Pet. The boy done good. This definitely calls for a biscuit-shaped celebration.
www.canineconcernscotland.org.uk
Mac visits the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow.
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