Lazy Sunday Part Deux

Hello again!

Betty's favorite napping spot: curled up between mommy and the couch

Dinner is in the oven (chicken and biscuits) and Betty is taking a snooze so I figured I'd post again today. I've been meaning to write about our visit to see my maternal grandmother "Nana" Bonnie last week.  My Nana is 76 and has Alzheimer's disease.  She's currently living in an assisted living group home with a few other elderly/mentally handicapped adults.  It had been a few weeks since I had gone to visit, so Josh and I figured we would take Betty over to meet her and her housemates.

My grandmother has owned dogs her whole life.  Growing up in rural Iowa she was a true farm girl at heart and loved animals.  When her last dog, Brandy, died years ago my grandparents decided not to get another dog seeing as they were both getting older and wouldn't want to deal with bringing a new puppy into the house.  I think this is a choice she regretted because as her Alzheimer's progressed she really missed the comfort of having a dog.  However, since she's been living in this new home she has attached herself to the resident dog Toby, a shih tzu mix, so we figured bringing Betty would be a welcomed treat.

Boy, were we right! 

Not only did Nana enjoy the visit but two of her other housemates who are well enough to move about enjoyed it too!  One man who is unable to communicate and only waves and smiles and rarely sits down actually sat down and watched Betty play even though he was reluctant to actually pet her.  Nana held her for a long time, stroking her and relaxing while we visited.  Even the house operator's daughter enjoyed playing and racing with her.

Betty and Nana...Love at first chew!

Relaxing and checking things out

Cuddling and sleeping!

Which got us to thinking- Plott Hounds and Labs are both breeds that do well when they have tasks or jobs to do seeing as they're high energy, so since Betty is such a sweetie with strangers why not train her to be a therapy dog!  I firmly believe in the healing power animals have.  Studies have shown they lower blood pressure and raise the quality of life for their owners.  Why not share our little Betty with people who could benefit from her visits?!

Of course this is only in the brainstorming stage for the time being, but seeing the effect she had on my Nana and her housemates really got me thinking that this could be the start of something good for all parties- Betty, Josh and I and the people who's lives she could touch.

More to come on this topic as I research what it would take to have her certified!

I'd like to sign off for the night with a video of 

Betty doing what she does best- 

Looking cute while sleeping...

Here she can be seen napping, sucking on her own tongue and apparently chasing squirrels in a dream

Enjoy!

:)

Until Next Time

XOXO

Betty

Rachel & Josh