On Thursday, when Kristy Lohr and her dog Zeke called on the youngsters at Scott & White’s Children’s Hospital, they were welcomed mostly with smiles and giggles from the patients as well as visiting adults.
There were a couple of children who were a little tentative about greeting a dog, even one as nice as Zeke.
Zeke, certified as a therapy dog with the Delta Society, was more than willing to roll over, shake hands and crawl like a baby at the behest of Lohr, but clearly his favorite activity was getting stroked by tiny hands.
Liam Macal, 21 months, was ready for Zeke. A patient for almost three weeks, Liam had streptococcus milleri, which caused lesions on his brain.
Elmo, Grover, the Cookie Monster and the assortment of teddy bears that sat at the foot of Liam’s bed lost all of their appeal when Zeke trotted in.
Since Liam and Zeke had met during the dog’s previous visits to Scott & White, no introduction was necessary. At one point, Zeke got up in a chair so it would be easier for Liam to reach him.
His parents, Alissa Rheay and Lawson Macal, said Liam would be going home soon with eight weeks worth of antibiotics.
Liam doesn’t have a dog at home, his mother said, but he’s awfully fond of “Bolt,” the animated movie about a canine star of a fictional sci-fi/action show that believes his powers are real.
Zeke, a 2-year-old blue lacy, passed his tests with the Delta Society in February and Lohr took an eight-hour class. Recertification for the two is required every two years.
Zeke and Lohr have been visiting Scott & White twice a week since April.
“I’ve been very interested in the therapy dog field,” said Lohr, a licensed counselor with Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services in Waco.
Zeke has a little sister, Zion, who’s a little too rambunctious to be trained, she said.
Lohr said she began exposing Zeke to all ages of people in different situations when he was still a puppy.
“I tried to get him used to different noises,” she said.
The noises and smells in a hospital take some getting used to, Lohr said.
Zeke also acts different around the various patients, picking up on their attitude, whether they’re afraid or not, Lohr said.
“Zeke is here for the kids, but everybody reacts to him,” Jan Upchurch, director of Child Life at Scott & White Memorial Hospital. “It just makes you feel good when Zeke walks in.”
Even the guys who take care of valet parking get excited when they see Zeke arrive, Lohr said.
“In Child Life we’re used to seeing magic in children, but Zeke brings a different level of magic,” Upchurch said.
There are young patients who are depressed and have to be coaxed into the playroom, but once there they will eventually get up and start playing, she said.
“Take a dog into their room and it’s a whole different story,” Upchurch said. “There is that special bond and unconditional love between the child and the dog.”
Zeke seems to know how active the child will want to get, she said.
“He senses things about the child much quicker than the rest of us,” Upchurch said. “It’s amazing to me.”
There are children who will hardly say a word, but when Zeke shows up it’s a different story, said Jaclyn Meeks, child life specialist.
Lohr said she’d like to see the program eventually expand to animal assisted therapy.
“Right now it’s just meet and greet, but it could include occupational and physical therapy,” she said.
Children who are having difficulty with fine motor skills, might benefit from brushing a dog, which would seem a lot less like work, Lohr said.
One little boy, she said, who hadn’t gotten out of bed in days, finally did so he could walk Zeke.
