Pyrs to the Rescue

The Club’s goal is to Rescue Pyrs. After they are rescued, they return the favor by rescuing others. Sometimes this takes the form of Therapy Work. Other times it takes the form of permitting children the opportunity to interact with them.

I think I’ve been flirted with…

»Added on Jul 1, 2015

I think I’ve been flirted with…

By Pam Croy I think I’ve been flirted with ! smile emoticon Brookdale today~~the day room was crowded, Bo and I walked/talked~~Bo got pats, lots of lovin’~~One of the resident dogs showed up with it’s owner, I made it my business to get Bo out of there, and to another part of the room. As we all know, Dog-Dog aggression and Dog-Human aggression are 2 entirely different things. Bo loves people, He wags, He twists and turns, He would talk if He could when a human comes into view~~I’ll n…ever know why the negative reaction to another dog , or, what happened to cause it ~~ So, We head back to the Memory Care Unit~~again, loving’ twisting , turning etc…..1 resident, ( we’ll call him John), a long time resident, but never...

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VA Today April 1, 2015

»Added on Apr 2, 2015

By: Pam Croy When I first met Kirk, he could not even focus his eyes, but looked only at the ceiling. Now, He watches as I walk into the room, He talks, sometimes a smile. It’s been a few years, but He has come a long way. He uses His hands and arms to a limited extent, and the day will come when He reaches out and pets a dog. His Mother is UN-relenting in Her love and care, visiting,bringing home-made gifts, loving Her boy, taking him home to be with her on holidays. I tell You this as a beacon of hope for the others that I see: Jay’s wife is constantly there, constantly at his side, He sits there, eyes closed, how much he hears, we do not know. His hands clenched into fists, his face completely blank. She talks to him,She laughs, She remembers and...

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VA 3/3/15

»Added on Mar 4, 2015

By: Pam Croy I’m back, in the groove,visiting with the guys, I missed them~ Mr. W. !~~~~~~ look at you ! Up here at the nurses’ station,drinking coffee~~You went to lunch? where? Olive Garden? You have no idea~~~I should have been born Italian, love it !!! Wine ? you had wine ? With the medication that you take, You had wine ? Honey,( he says)~”I’m almost 80 years old, if I want wine, I have wine”~~… OK,next time, let me know when you and Your friend will be there~ I say~~~”Better than that” , He says~~I’ll tell them to give you a free glass, gratis on me” this man is one of the ones that You remember, one of the ones that has wormed his way into your heart~~One of the ones that will be sorely missed when...

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VA 01/06/2015

»Added on Jan 9, 2015

By Pam Croy: The family was there,milling around, looking over to smile at the prone figure on the bed . His wife holding his hand, to let Him know that She was right there with Him. Myself ,My escort from the CLC , and Cody, we walk into the room~~~ “Roy ! Roy ! Look ! Cody is here !!” ( My escort and I get a glancing smile) Pictures are taken by the family, Cody is mobbed by admiring hugs ,pats,… ( I know, it’s a tough job, but what’s a dog to do but accept and love ?) Cody moves a bit at a time, accepting the lovin’ but never being swayed from His goal until He is at the bedside. ” Roy, He’s here ! give me your hand sweetheart, relax your arm, now , I’ll guide you, feel that fur, You should see this dog,...

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VA 10/26/2014

»Added on Nov 28, 2014

By Pam Croy I was supposed to visit on Tuesday, but the sky fell so I didn’t go. Not that I’ll melt or anything, but protecting the dog from the rain is not only well-nigh impossible but also a wet Great Pyrenees is not a pretty sight to see and show to the soldiers, after all, the dog is the star of this little show. Wednesday brought sun, and a little cooler weather, so were’ on our way to the V.A.~~~~~ We walk in and go down the hall to a lively game of 21~~John is winning today~~I asked him if He was gonna’ take me to lunch~~Yeah Right !!! 🙂 Lenny pats Cody, runs his hands thru the fur, then smiles. We make out way around the rest of the table, then head for the 3rd floor. Our escort leads us to each room, stops/speaks~~~asks if they...

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Emeritus 11/05/14

»Added on Nov 6, 2014

By Pam Croy Today was the “puppy parade” at Emeritus~~Everyone that works Pet therapy there brought their dogs, some residents had their dogs brought from home to join in the festivities. A big circle of smiling residents, all of us walked past and walked around~~ the dogs accepted lovin’~~Schipperke dogs all the way up to the Great Danes were in attendance.~~Denny and Cody represented the Great Pyrenees breed. Next was the “parade” to the memory care unit, then on to the outside for a short walk in the fresh air~~Back inside were doggie treats and bowls of water~~ lots of smiles wee in evidence. On to Home Depot for a couple of items, Denny and Cody in tow~~( it took a while to get the thing that we needed because people kept...

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Emeritus 10/22/2014

»Added on Oct 23, 2014

By Pam Croy I found a parking place near the front this morning, so I get out of the van, open the side door, grab a leash , then Denny and I walk to the “message tree”~~Denny reads all messages, leaves one of his own, and we start for the front door. A small /tiny voice calls out,”may I pet him ?” “Of course you may, you stay there in the shade, I’ll come to you”~~A newbie, small in stature, gray hair, wrinkled skin, and a beautiful smile that lit up Her entire face. We approach Her, She reaches for Denny. How interesting ! I think I see a little moisture coming from Her eyes,. She looks up, and again the smile lights up Her face. “He is the most beautiful dog I’ve ever seen”, She says~~”I’ve...

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VA Visit 10/14/2014

»Added on Oct 16, 2014

By Pam Croy ……………..Storms forecast for yesterday afternoon. .Going to the V.A. means parking in the main parking lot and walking to the CLC~~wonderful, NOT ! OK~~I’ll take the shuttle, the word has been given that Cody is allowed on the shuttle and We’ll be dropped near the front door .It doesn’t matter if we get wet after the visitation, but I can’t possibly take a wet Great Pyrenees in to see the guys if we get wet beforehand. And up steps Hubby~~”I’ll drive you, drop you both right at the front door~~I need to go over to the new Fisher House today, I have some DVD’s to leave there for the kids.” big grin here~~”thanks !!!” Off we go, water, towels ,dog, treat bag ~~~~No...

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Working the Room

»Added on Sep 5, 2014

By Pam Croy — V.A. Yesterday. I walk and talk, Cody “struts” as we walk to each room. Of course He stopped at the nurses’ station for the special treats that ****** buys for him~~She blames me for the fact that she now has a Great Pyrenees that she rescued. As She said “ I had never even heard of the breed until you showed up, it’s all your fault.” We stop in the Dayroom , ******* is there, He laughs and reaches for Cody, ignoring the T.V. for the moment. I speak to my friend sitting there with him, actually she is a friend of a friend, we found out that we know the same person, a breeder of Great Pyrenees. We then start down the hallway, peeking in doors, some of the soldiers are taking a nap, some call to us as we enter the room.We...

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A Cute Story: The VA

»Added on Jul 25, 2014

By Pam Croy — Denny and I are “trucking along”~~visiting with the guys ( no Lady soldiers this time )~~we laugh, tell stories, etc….. we get to a room with a “newbie” in it~~sitting with Him is His wife and a son and another male visitor~~We ask if We can come in ~~the answer is NO, so we settle for a “door visit”~(ie: door visit: stand in the entrance, introduce yourself and the dog , talk and laugh , do not go in the room with the dog) Then the Vet. tells me, “He sure is pretty, bring him in here”: so, very slowly , in we go up to the bed~~The man reaches out with 1 finger, ( 1 finger, mind you !) , and touches Denny’s head~~ “that’s the closest I’ve ever been to a dog this...

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The VA

»Added on Jul 14, 2014

By Pam Croy — Schedules dictated that this past week, the Tuesday visitation was a “no-go”~~so Wednesday was the day that was selected~~ Cody was brushed, grooming spray applied, wet wipes, warm wash cloth for the ” eye stuff” ,collar, leash , water bowl filled~~~~ Pam puts on V.A. badge, puts V.A. pass on the dash of the van~ gets Cody’s treat bag filled with his favorite ( Hot Dogs)~~ AND WE’RE OFF !!! Lo and Behold there’s a parking place right close to the CLC~~I pull up, park, grab dog, put on treat bag~~head for the “message tree” ( Cody has to visit this tree every time we go to the V.A.) 🙂 Then we head inside~~I hear voices, I head down the hall, the trivia game is breaking up for the day~~Mr....

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A HIDDEN POWER

»Added on Jul 1, 2014

By Pam Croy — I’m a toucher, a hugger~~sometimes I get surprise, sometimes it bridges a gap and smooth’s an awkward moment ,sometimes a hug works when words won’t , sometimes the person turns away~~sometimes there is hesitation, then thankfulness for close , human contact~~ The V.A. is all about privacy and respect~~most important~I keep my distance, that’s how it should be~~~perhaps~~~My boys have shown me that the “tactile sensation” , of burying one’s hands into a full ruff, brings a feeling of safety, of peace~~but never had I considered the power of the human touch in this situation. This past Tuesday, Cody loved, preened, stuck his nose in for a pat, loved the idea that He was being loved~~then, I reached out,...

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A TOUCH OF REALISM

»Added on Jun 10, 2014

By Pam Croy — V.A. TODAY (June 10th, 2014) ~~~we visited , John,black Mike,Lenny, Kirk, Mr. Rix ,Mr.B~~ all the good ones, all the ones that have been here for a time~~I think about the time when they may not be here~a few misty moments, they were here when I first started visiting the CLC~~ A “newbie” asks me “do you really think that they would step up and defend you “have you ever seen the movie of Dr. Jek…yl and Mr. Hyde ?”~~ I ask” please remember , this is a guardian breed, they evolved 3000 years ago~~this particular trait has never been bred out of them~~I will tell you now, I have no desire to find out if they will defend me~~my Husband traveled for over 20 years, he never worried about me~~I always had...

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The VA & Mr. Watson

»Added on May 30, 2014

The VA & Mr. Watson

By Pam Croy — Please note: privacy is most important at the V.A.~~these pictures could not have been published without the express written consent of the veteran. Every day, Mr. Watson makes his way up to the nurses’ station, sits down on the sofa, the nurses’ bring him his cup of coffee . He talks and laughs, listens, speaks to the passer by. Notice that I said that He “makes his way up to the nurses’ station”? Mr Watson has a sight problem, as in, he has no sight. But He can laugh, He can coax Cody up on the couch beside him, he can bury his hands in that fur ,talk softly and smile. The Dobermans that visit now will get in his bed, but Cody was trained not to do so and will have nothing to do with...

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Emertius — May 22, 2014

»Added on May 23, 2014

By Pam Croy — Denny ! Get yourself in here, let’s get pretty for the folks at Emeritus~~Hurry, Cody wants to go too ,but you get in the house and I’ll shut the door fast so He can’t get in here” Yeah , Yeah, I know ,He’ll sulk for the next day or so, but I really only want to take 1 today, and that 1 is to be you.” Brushed, face wiped off, grooming spray for a nice smell , collar, leash, fresh water, and we’re off ~~Denny stands up in the back of the van , to navigate, but lays down on command like a good boy. Emeritus is in our sights, We turn in and park. I open the side door, grab a leash, and we head for the front entrance~~Of course, we have to stop and check the tree for messages~~that poor tree, there are so...

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Emeritus Visit 05/09/2014

»Added on May 11, 2014

By Pam Croy — his past Tuesday Emeritus was our destination~~with my being under the weather for a time, I had been lax with a visitations, and missed my friends. Denny was ready to go, plastered himself against the back glass door and watched my every move. Cody was equally convinced that it was to be him, so the door had 2 big white dogs melted into the glass with all intentions of somehow moving thru the glass and a PYRing at my side, all ready to go ! “FIELD TRIP “!!! what to do ? whom do I take ? ” !!!! FINE !!!! I’ll take you both ! Get your white bodies in here, you have to be brushed, your faces wiped off, then maybe , just maybe I’ll lay claim to you !”~~~~hop/jump/twirl around~~”it’s me, it’s...

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And the Beat Goes On…

»Added on May 3, 2014

And the Beat Goes On…

By Pam Croy: —  V.A. today but earlier than usual visitation to try and dodge the storm. Cody and I walked into the CLC Office, no one was there~~I’m telling Cody~~ “but they knew I was coming, I called them, something is up “~~~~~ They’re all in the dinning room, the trivia game going full bore. they smiled, they laughed, they winked ,they thanked me for being there ( truth be told, I’m the one that receives the most good from this)~ I answer a trivia question ~> WRONG ! fine, I’ll go visit the other guys, I’m better at that anyway ! “C” and I catch the elevator to go upstairs ,the door opens on the 3rd floor, and we are mobbed. People reach for Cody, love on him, ask questions, give him treats~~Oh!...

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A Day to Remember

»Added on Apr 19, 2014

A Day to Remember

By Pam Croy:  Emeritus today~~I haven’t been there in over a month,.~~( life has a way of getting in the way at times) , so I was looking forward to seeing all of my friends. With Cody in tow, (Denny has “copped a tude” , because …I left him home ) , I advance on the building, stopping of course at a tree to let Cody check for messages , there were none, so we set our sights on the nursing home itself. I walked into the day room, greeted all, walked from one person to another with Cody~~One of my friends asks me ” are You going to be around for a time ? We are being visited by a group of school children in a little while”~~ Coincidence being what it is, as She asked, the children came marching in. The director had the children...

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A Lost One

»Added on Mar 20, 2014

A Lost One

By Pam Croy: Cody and I walked up to his door, He sat there on the edge of the bed with His arms propped up on the bedside table, His head buried in His arms. No movement, no sound. We stopped, considered the idea of if we should enter . We knocked lightly on the door , asking admittance He raised His head slightly, His tortured face quiet evident and almost causing pain to an onlooker. I spoke to Cody, ( to paraphrase the Wendy’s commercial) “we’re going in”~~Cody walked directly up to the buried face, gave a little whine, then a sniff, the head raised up to see, And then, 2 arms grabbed, a muffled voice said, “animals understand so much more than people” Cody’s ruff was tumbled, the arms thrown around His neck squeezed,...

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Amazing Insight

»Added on Mar 6, 2014

By Pam Croy: I thought I had seen it all~~I was a little “jaded”~~Nothing could ever surprise me again I thought~~I had seen a man admitted that could not focus his eyes, he now acknowledges me and Cody when we come into his room~~He gives us the most beautiful smile that I have ever seen~~I hold the hand of the man with the plate in his head~~He can’t talk well, but He can smile and laugh while caressing Cody~~The one that is Blind, again,I hold his hand and tell him that I had heard that He had another girlfriend and I was heartbroken because I thought I was his”one and only”~I hear the man that would not acknowledge us for over 4 years ask me ” do you have a cookie that I can give to Cody ?” ” I have to give Cody...

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Is that a Dog?

»Added on Mar 5, 2014

By Pam Croy   In the newspaper~~> CAR SHOW~TOWN OF TIOGA~10-3 PM~~West of Gainesville~~ I like to see the old cars ,( particularly the Malibu’s)~~Hubby LOVES to see the old cars~~ so, this is to be our Saturday outing~~”Maybe we should take Denny, He hasn’t been out in a couple of days”~~”OK, but you hold the leash, I want to look at the cars”~~”Not a problem”~~~~~ and it wasn’t~~Hubby walks and looks, I hold the leash and look also~~but not near as much~ :::::::::::::::::reason:::::::::::::: We’ve all seen it, experienced it~~I couldn’t walk 10 feet without questions: what is that? can I pet Him? will he bite”? can my children pet him?” What’s that you say, a club, do you...

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EMERITUS VISIT

»Added on Feb 27, 2014

EMERITUS VISIT

By Pam Croy ~as Denny and I walked in the front entrance, an elderly man was sitting there in a wheelchair~He nodded his head, smiled~I walked over with Denny, the old man was all smiles~~we talked, he loved~ somehow , we got on age~he is 94 YO~~no privacy issue here, so I asked “did you serve our country ?”~~Yes, I was in the Pacific,I served under MacArthur~~I shook his hand and thanked him~~”Were you on Bataan, the Death March?” I asked~~yes, and I survived, I have no idea how many died” He said~~We talked more, I told him that one of my Uncles was in the death march and did not survive , that there is a VFW home in Ocala, Florida dedicated to his memory as the first boy from Marion County to be a casualty of war. The man at...

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Children’s Hospital Visit

»Added on Feb 24, 2014

By Adrian Morris (and Greta): Yesterday was Greta’s day for Children’s hospital and it was a special day for the kids it was Spring picnic day. This is a day they use to get all kids all the kids whom are mobile outside for a picnic and to have some fun. when Greta got to the Pediatric ward we were stopped by one of the doctor’s who said they needed Greta’s help with one of the kids. they explained what the problem was and Greta danced down the hall to see one of her kids. Greta went into this little(9 years old) girl’s room and asked why she did not want to go to the picnic. with the girl’s parents and the doctor’s looking on Greta went to work to convince her friend to go outside. we explained Greta’s favorite food...

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