Rossi, the therapy dog, goes to Integris Baptist Hospital and Belle Isle Library
CLICK HERE for Parties Extra! Photo Gallery
Rossi, the therapy dog. (Photo provided).
Three–year-old Rossi gets around. She has quite the social life and knows a lot of people. On Mondays, the bushy-headed standard poodle socializes with children and parents at Belle Isle Library. On Wednesdays, the registered therapy dog makes hospital rounds at Integris Baptist Medical Center.
Actually, people are socializing with her. At the library, the children are reading library books or books they have brought from home, or they are telling Rossi a story. She listens intently whether the children speak English or Spanish. She brings out the best in the children who might not want to read out loud to parents, teachers or their peers.
Rossi is uncomplaining. She doesn’t care how long it takes to hear a story from a child.
Rossi also visits sick patients. She brings laughter and smiles when her owner and handler, Judy Savage, knocks on a patient’s door and announces their arrival.
“She’s a big hit at the Jim ThorpeRehabilitation Center,” Savage said. “She motivates patients who seem a little depressed. She’s now adding visits to heart patients to her volunteer workload.”
Follow
