ANIMALS BRING JOY TO SENIOR RESIDENTS
By Sharon Meaney, Staff Writer

Verna opens her fridge, then closes
it again. Forgetting why she was there, Verna sighs and sits back down. Dementia and aging is taking its toll on her spirit. When Brodie shows up, Verna doesn't remember meeting him, but he brings a smile
to her face. Brodie isn't a family member or friend. Brodie is a dog.

Calvary's Pet-Assisted Therapy ministry brings much joy to the elderly residents of The Terraces senior center. Currently, eleven volunteers and a "staff" of ten dogs visit Terraces' residents on a weekly basis. Nicole hopes to expand the ministry to other facilities as people and pets step forward to volunteer. The dogs capture people's hearts and lives, often opening the door for scripture and prayer at the end of each visit.

Volunteers and their dogs go room to room to visit the residents one-on-one. "We share our pet with them and visit with them first. We hand them a card with a weekly verse. Sometimes this leads to conversation.  Before we leave, we ask if we can pray for them for any prayer requests."

The dogs allow volunteers to make connections and share God's love. "Even those that say they have no faith are willing to listen to the verse and connect with us in their own way."

The third time Nicole visited Verna, she watched as Verna light up when she saw Brodie . "She came to life once Brodie was in her lap.  This time she seemed more intent as I read her the verse.  I asked if she would like me to pray for her and she exclaimed 'Yes!'  then gave me a big hug.  She cried as I prayed but seemed to be more peaceful than I had ever seen her before."

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