I visited a facility that was new to me this week. It’s an assisted living facility that’s run by the same group that has the houses we’ve been to before. This facility was different from the others because it’s on several floors, and we were in an activity room instead of a big TV room.
When we were brought to the activity room it was empty. So my human let me wander and explore on my leash while we waited for people to show up. There were a lot of cool things to check out, and my human thought it resembled a child’s playroom, with its art supplies, puzzles, and tambourines. It’s interesting how older people can enjoy the sort of things that younger adults forget were fun.
Finally one lady showed up. Eventually a couple of other ladies showed up, and my human took Polaroids of me posing with each one of them. They were all very nice. It was a quiet visit, which was good for a first time.
Unlike the residents at the other facility we’ve been to, these residents didn’t have a lot of supervision, or staff keeping an eye on them. The first lady who showed up seemed clear headed and my human was able to have a fairly deep conversation with her. She had an interesting story that I will repeat here.
She told us she prefers cats to dogs because she had a bad experience with a dog who attacked her as a very young child. It was a German shepherd, and the emotionally challenged neighbor boy who owned it sicced it on her. She was hurt badly enough to have to go to the emergency room.
This probably happened in the 1950s, and there was talk about putting down the dog. But instead the family of the injured child insisted that the dog go to a training school out in the country. Several years later, the lady, who was still a child at this point, went with her family to see the dog. And the dog was very sweet to her and licked her hand.
The dog stayed with the school’s trainer for the rest of his life. Our friend went to see the dog several times over the years after the first visit. Although she prefers cats, she told us the dog was “the first animal I ever loved.”
I hope you got something out the story. My human did.
Other posts you’ll enjoy:
- Visiting the Assisted Living Houses
- Therapy Cat Senior Sunday
- Back to the Hospital for a Therapy Cat Visit
That was a meaningful story! And I’m glad people in assisted living are getting to see you, Summer!
That story was really nice, Summer. We are glad the dog was given a chance, and that that woman was able to meet the dog again, and know that it wasn’t the dog’s fault.
Wow Summer that story is bitter sweet. A lot of people don’t know that bad dogs are the result of humans teaching them to be aggressive. That hurts my heart. I’m glad the lady had a positive resolution
What a wonderful story! Pop loves cats for kind of the same reason. As a child, every time he tried to pet a dog, he wound up touching a sore spot or something and the dogs went for him.
That was a sweet story, Summer. Sounds like your visit was a very good one.
That’s an amazing story!!!
Interesting story – she probably didn’t know what happened with the
boy. We can guess though.
A quiet work room with just a few people must have been restful
for you.
That is a beautiful story of kindness and second chances, Summer.
Purrs,
Tama and Benny
I am glad the lady got to be friends with the dog. How sad she was attacked though because of the owner.
What a wonderful story with a happy ending for all. Thanks for sharing it Summer.
Oh Summer, this brought back memories for me, as I was bitten by a Great Dane when I was a kid, as it appeared to be running after my little sister. No physical injury, thankfully.
Dogs frightened me for years after that, until I wasn’t anymore as a young adult.
Sounds like you had a delightful adventure.
That really was a special story and I’m glad you had a good visit sweet Summer.
This sounds like heaven to me, if I had to live in such a place. So very glad you’re going to new places and bringing some joy to people.
I think that assisted living is generally just people who need physical help, as opposed to mentally challenged folk. I could be wrong.
Wow, what a great story. I’m glad the dog was trained to be better.
That’s a great story. Sounds like a good first visit.
Happy Thursday sweet friends!
What a great story. Good too that the decision to train rather than euthanize was made.
That must have been a rare thing in the 1950’s.
It shows the value in training . I am glad the woman went to see the dog after his training 🙂
That way ,she would see that dogs are not bad or dangerous.
More people need to train their dogs.
Purrs, Julie