One Health

Thank you for this! I wasn't aware of this week and have shared the link that you added. Stay safe and thank you for educating us on how to stay safe! 

I have a wonderful heartwarming story that proves how much pets can do for our health.

A few years back a gentleman (Mr. G) called to see if he could qualify to get a pet from Knox PAWS, he had been denied at several local shelter and rescues.  He believed the reason was because he was wheelchair bound. 

I qualified him and assured him his mobility challenges would not interfere with getting a pet. We went to a local shelter to look at a few dogs.  As he rolled past the kennels, he stopped at one particular cage where a very timid and scared little dog sat shivering in the back.  The shelter staff escorting us said "he is probably not a good choice; he is just so scared".  Mr. G continued to sit there in front of the kennel.  The little dog (Kyle) slowly approached the front of the cage, and eventually up to Mr. G's hand to smell of him.

Mr. G asked to meet Kyle privately and don't you know that little dog jumped right up into Mr. G's lap.  It was as if Kyle understood the wheelchair and boundaries. Needless to say, Kyle went home with Mr. G.

About 10 months later Mr. G asked me to come and visit him and Kyle, but he wanted to meet outside and not in his apartment.  I laughed and said, "I don't mind if your apartment is cluttered", he said "outside is better".

When I arrived, it was not hard to find Mr. G and Kyle, because they were STANDING (with a rollator only) in the front of the building. Standing, no wheelchair. Mr. G told me that he had been able to strengthen muscles and get up out of his wheelchair all because of walking Kyle multiple times per day.  His doctor was amazed at his progress. 

Mr. G and Kyle have both passed on but what a benefit Kyle was to Mr. G.  And I would have to say that little scared dog in the kennel was happy to be saved by Mr. G 

I have a wonderful heartwarming story that proves how much pets can do for our health.

A few years back a gentleman (Mr. G) called to see if he could qualify to get a pet from Knox PAWS, he had been denied at several local shelter and rescues.  He believed the reason was because he was wheelchair bound. 

I qualified him and assured him his mobility challenges would not interfere with getting a pet. We went to a local shelter to look at a few dogs.  As he rolled past the kennels, he stopped at one particular cage where a very timid and scared little dog sat shivering in the back.  The shelter staff escorting us said "he is probably not a good choice; he is just so scared".  Mr. G continued to sit there in front of the kennel.  The little dog (Kyle) slowly approached the front of the cage, and eventually up to Mr. G's hand to smell of him.

Mr. G asked to meet Kyle privately and don't you know that little dog jumped right up into Mr. G's lap.  It was as if Kyle understood the wheelchair and boundaries. Needless to say, Kyle went home with Mr. G.

About 10 months later Mr. G asked me to come and visit him and Kyle, but he wanted to meet outside and not in his apartment.  I laughed and said, "I don't mind if your apartment is cluttered", he said "outside is better".

When I arrived, it was not hard to find Mr. G and Kyle, because they were STANDING (with a rollator only) in the front of the building. Standing, no wheelchair. Mr. G told me that he had been able to strengthen muscles and get up out of his wheelchair all because of walking Kyle multiple times per day.  His doctor was amazed at his progress. 

Mr. G and Kyle have both passed on but what a benefit Kyle was to Mr. G.  And I would have to say that little scared dog in the kennel was happy to be saved by Mr. G 

I have a wonderful heartwarming story that proves how much pets can do for our health.

A few years back a gentleman (Mr. G) called to see if he could qualify to get a pet from Knox PAWS, he had been denied at several local shelter and rescues.  He believed the reason was because he was wheelchair bound. 

I qualified him and assured him his mobility challenges would not interfere with getting a pet. We went to a local shelter to look at a few dogs.  As he rolled past the kennels, he stopped at one particular cage where a very timid and scared little dog sat shivering in the back.  The shelter staff escorting us said "he is probably not a good choice; he is just so scared".  Mr. G continued to sit there in front of the kennel.  The little dog (Kyle) slowly approached the front of the cage, and eventually up to Mr. G's hand to smell of him.

Mr. G asked to meet Kyle privately and don't you know that little dog jumped right up into Mr. G's lap.  It was as if Kyle understood the wheelchair and boundaries. Needless to say, Kyle went home with Mr. G.

About 10 months later Mr. G asked me to come and visit him and Kyle, but he wanted to meet outside and not in his apartment.  I laughed and said, "I don't mind if your apartment is cluttered", he said "outside is better".

When I arrived, it was not hard to find Mr. G and Kyle, because they were STANDING (with a rollator only) in the front of the building. Standing, no wheelchair. Mr. G told me that he had been able to strengthen muscles and get up out of his wheelchair all because of walking Kyle multiple times per day.  His doctor was amazed at his progress. 

Mr. G and Kyle have both passed on but what a benefit Kyle was to Mr. G.  And I would have to say that little scared dog in the kennel was happy to be saved by Mr. G