Making The Rounds On All Fours

A furry wagging tale brings some cheer into a sterile hospital environment.
The Australian Shepherd walks the halls, almost appearing to smile at all the attention he is attracting.
Dandy is a therapy dogs who visits Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento with his owner and handler Nikki Carpenter of Sheldon.
Therapy dogs are used to brighten patients' days in hospitals and convalescent homes.
Janet Perrone is one of the people who brought the dog assisted therapy program to South Sacramento.
“You can just see a difference in people’s attitudes when they leave," Perrone said. "Their day is brightened after the visit."
Nikki and Dandy entered the Kaiser program over one year ago.
Even people who aren’t “dog people” enjoy a visit from Dandy, Nikki said.
On March 31, Nikki and Dandy make the rounds on the second and third floors at Kaiser in South Sacramento to greet patients.
Danell Woolley sat in a chair recovering from surgery, with her grandson, Cody Woolley seated next to her. Dandy approached Danell and nuzzled her lap.
“I think it’s a real smart idea,” Cody said about the dog-assisted therapy program.
Danell said she used to work at a retirement community and a convalescent home where therapy animals were brought in to cheer up patients.
JoAnn Turnbull of Delta Society, which registers therapy dogs and connects people with information about local training classes, said handlers must be advocates for their dogs.
“They’re watching out for their animal,” Turnbull said about handlers.
Animals should enjoy volunteering as much as the person.
Dandy seemed chipper, even though he was neutered the day before. He still rolled over with enthusiasm and placed his paws on the beds of people who seemed excited to see him.
Other patients were groggy but effortlessly smiled when they saw Dandy.
Tina Fuller of Sacramento said, “he’s cute,” as she lay in bed.
Dandy’s intuitive nature and intelligence makes him a great therapy dog, Nikki said.
When Dandy placed his front paws on a hospital bed where one woman rested, Nikki said, “he senses something that I don’t.”
“I love this dog!” the woman exclaimed, adding that she has an Australian Shepherd at home.
“He has one blue eye,” commented the man standing next to her bed.
“He’s a blue merle,” the woman said.
There are four types of Australian Shepherds; blue merle is the most common.
A common physical feature in a blue merle, such as Dandy, is one blue eye and one brown eye.
Nikki began raising Australian Shepherds in the 1970s. She also trains Golden Retrievers as therapy pets.
“They are two of the smartest breeds,” she said. “They can out think you better than kids can.”
Nikki has another Australian Shepherd at home who will soon become a therapy dog at Kaiser.
“Once the new wing opens, we’ll really be busy,” Nikki said, referring to the new wing opening some time in 2011.