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- Tues.-Thurs. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
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A Shaggy Dog Story
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It's not at all unusual to see a cadre of furry, four-footed volunteers making their way through the halls of UDS these days led by their owner and UDS staff member, Laurie Harwich, on their way to one of the agency's adult services programs.
Harwich, the executive assistant to UDS Executive Director Gary Knuth, has been an animal lover her entire life. The self-proclaimed "collie snob" and Lassie fan has a motley, but loveable, assortment of ten collies, collie mixes, Pomeranians and other small dogs which allow her to share a home with them in Canal Fulton. Most of the dogs are hers but she readily admits to always having room to foster one more looking for a home through Collie Resue where she has been a volunteer for ten years.
Harwich began using her dogs in rehabilitation settings with the encouragement of her mother who suggested she take them to nursing homes and local hospitals. She and her collie, Maggie, became involved with the Delta Society, an organization dedicated to advancing human health and well-being through positive interactions with animals, and began paying regular visits to the Edwin Shaw Rehabilitation Hospital.
A few years ago, Harwich discovered a way to combine this experience with her current job at UDS when she asked if she could bring in a dog or two each month to socialize with clients.
Whether it's Montie the collie/Great Pyrenees mix or Milo, the tiny Pomeranian, the clients can't wait for the next visit "People not only like the tactile sensation of their fur but it also encourages social interaction," says Harwich. "On the days when the dogs visit, it seems like everyone has a dog story to share--whether they have a dog or not!"
The staff members who work with the clients also notice the positive effects of the visits. "We have many individuals whose faces light up when the dogs come into their group. The dogs visit everyone who wants a visit," says Nancy Torok, SociAbilities program supervisor. "Some individuals can only give a very minimal outward appearance of what they are feeling. Yet it is very clear that when they are with the dogs, they are truly enjoying the moment."
The clients aren't the only ones who look foward to the canine visitiors. "Staff members get as much out of it as the clients," says Harwich. "It's a great stress reliever and can really brighten someone's day."