This is newspaper article written about one of our families that take their Boston and their Labradoodle to visit people in hospitals and nursing homes.
ZANESVILLE -- Bogey jumped up on the bed beside Richard Ramsey at Genesis Bethesda Hospital and laid down with what looked like a smile spreading across his black and white face.
Bogey, a 6-year-old Boston terrier, visits patients at local hospitals and rehabilitation centers in the area with his owner, Lois Gruenebaum, and Miley, a 5-year-old Labradoodle.
The therapy dogs bring a lot of comfort and joy to patients that are staying at hospitals, in Hospice or rehab centers for the past seven years, said Gruenebaum.
Gruenebaum, 60, of Zanesville, also enjoys the time, always smiling and ready with treats for the dogs and words of comfort for the patients.
Ramsey enjoyed the break from the therapy he was getting on his leg and shoulder. Ramsey, of Hanover, fell off a oil tank a month ago and broke his leg, dislocated his shoulder and had numerous facial injuries.
"He's a good dog," Ramsey said. "He makes me miss my dog, Maggie."
Derek Noll, an occupational therapist at the hospital, said Bogey and Miley really help the patients from not getting depressed.
"Some patients spend all day working on difficult life lessons and relearning how to do a lot of things," Noll said. "The dogs give them a break and a chance to catch their breath and relax a little."
Gruenebaum said she started taking her dogs on visits to patients because she wanted to help.
"They're really wonderful with the kids that are in the hospital," Gruenebaum said. "It really brightens patients' days when the dogs come to visit. I've been doing this for a few years and started with a great dog, a pug named Lucy, who is now gone."
Gruenebaum works hard with her dogs so they can walk easily through hospital corridors, into rooms and visit with patients without fear of them becoming nervous or anxious.
Bogey is a natural and obviously loves to do tricks. He has quite an assortment he's accomplished at -- playing dead, bowing, rolling over, shaking hands and, while not a trick, loves to ride with a patient in a wheelchair.
Charles Bruce, of St. Louisville, got a visit from Gruenebaum and the two dogs, and while it made him smile, it also made him think of his cat, Tom.
Bruce, who is recovering from knee surgery, said he loved having the dogs come visit.
"If you like animals, it's a real treat," Bruce said.
Gruenebaum, who for 20 years took customers on gambling junkets to Las Vegas and out of the country, said doing volunteer work is extremely rewarding.
"I think when I take the dogs to see the kids that really gets to me," Gruenebaum said. "The kids get a big kick out of seeing them. They take the dogs for walks down the halls and play with them. It really takes their minds off why they're here."
One of the other volunteers at the hospital, Pat Dusenbery, said she loves to see the patients with Gruenebaum and the dogs.
"The visits really keep the patients calm," Dusenbery said. "Especially the children. Those visits with Bogey and Miley keeps the anxiety of being here down. I think the dogs are wonderful."
