Do you have a story to share? E-mail a short story about your therapy pet or a story a recent therapy visit so we can share it in our monthly newsletter. Pictures are always welcome. We would like to spotlight a member and share a story in every newsletter. Please e-mail your information to:dcheney@petprescriptionteam.com
Healing Hearts Through Pets
Pet Prescription Team
Thank you all for keeping Brielle in your thoughts and prayers. We have received many emails from our members and friends over the past month regarding Brielle so we thought that we would put a permanent link to Brielle's website here where you can find the latest information on her. Brielle Murray Update
We also have put a video together of her journey for Certification as a Pet Prescription Team Therapy dog.
Kaiser Permanente and the Pet Prescription Team will begin a therapy program at the Los Angeles Medical facility in August. This program will have special requirements for all of our volunteers that would like to participate in this therapy program. Some of the requirements are, TB Test,5 hour orientation at the facility,background check on volunteer and compliance orientation at the hospital.
Once all volunteers have met all the requirements they will be visiting on the different wards of the hospital on a weekly schedule.
The on-line visitation report forms are coming in like crazy. It is wonderful to see how well all of the members visits are going and what we as a team might do to make the visits even more successful. For those of you that are unaware of what a visitation report is last month we began excepting on-line submission of visitation reports.It has given all of our members the ability to submit their visitation reports form on-line. This will not only help us to keep better records as an organization but it will also help us better meet the needs of the facilities we are visiting at. As a volunteer of the Pet Prescription Team it is your responsibility to fill a report out on each and every visit you make.
Gerinet Hospice Care serves patients and their families in LA and Orange Counties and has a number of patients in skilled nursing facilities and in private homes in the Whittier and La Habra area that would love a visit from a PPT member. As a Hospice volunteer, you find that it is a very rewarding experience and an opportunity for you to visit one on one with your pet and the patient. Most patients request at least one visit per month, and often times look forward to having visits two to three times per month. For those who are looking for a flexible schedule, Hospice is a perfect match, as you don't have to set your visits on a specific day and time each month.
Each Hospice organization is independent, so if you are already working with Hospice Care of the West or another Hospice organization, you will need to be cleared through Gerinet Hospice Care in order to begin visiting.Clearance includes a general hospice orientation, that will be completed in a day, a health screening, current TB Test, background check, current identification and references.
If you interested in this volunteer opportunity please contact Kathie Sullivan directly at: 562-904-6777.
Next CGC Test will be on August 28th, at 10:00 AM. Time slots are in 15 minute time spots. Cost of the CGC test is $15.00. Please schedule your CGC test by calling the Pet Prescription Team office at: 562-694-8090.
Dog Days of Summer is just around the corner. A big thank you to the team members who are volunteering their time to support the varity of fund raising projects that the Pet Prescription Team has at this event. Jillian Lovato is coordinating the Dog Wash, Julie Clark is coordinating the Pet Prescription Team booth, Mike Mrurphy is coordinating the Photo Booth, Melinda Benhardt and Cathy Hughes are covering the Bake Sale and Holly Orzol is covering the raffle prizes. If you are on one of the set up committees, you can contact Phil or Krystal.
If you are still interested in baking items for the bake sale or donating an item for the raffle, Please contact Melind, Holly or Diane Cheney.
Dear Friends & Members,
Recently I began thinking about how quickly a life can end after losing so many of the residents I have visited with over the years. I have always been an individual that has lived within the moment and yet the reality is the things I do today are the things that will leave a mark on tomorrow.
Did you know...
Average life span are shorter than most of us realize. For instance, a face lift lasts only six to ten years; a dollar bill lasts for only eighteen months; a painted line on the road remains only three to four months; and a tornado lasts more than ten minutes.
There are differences of opinion, but most agree that the human life span averages somewhere between seventy-five and eighty years. That may sound encouraging to the young and disturbing to those in their sixties, seventies, and eighties. The simple fact is, however, nobody knows for sure how long he or she may live.
The average life span may be seventy-five to eighty years, but who can say or I have that long? We may have less that two years or, for that matter, less than two weeks. Vanishing vapors aren't known for longevity.
Since this is true, let's do our best to make the time we have count. Rather than live with reluctance, let's live with exuberance. Instead of fearing what's ahead, let's face it head-on with enthusiasm. And because life is so terribly short, lets do everything we can to make it sweet.
How? Three thoughts come to mind.
First, act on your impulse. Don't wait for the perfect moment. There will never be a perfect moment to go on a visit or to touch someone's life through Therapy work. Life is forever changing and as sure as you wait until tomorrow you will have missed the opportunity of today.
Second, focus on the positive. Merchants of negativism may be strong and sound convincing, but their message is debilitating. Life's too short for that. Spread germs of cheer. Joy is contagious.
Third, traffic in the truth. Refuse to stake your claim on hearsay. Check out the facts. Be discerning. If you are a conduit of communication, speak only the truth. If you're not absolutely sure, keep quiet. Lies can outlive lives, unfortunately.
Short and sweet. That's the only way to go.
So what is your challenge today with your Therapy visits... have you been putting it off thinking, "I'll start visiting next month." Life is too short to wait start today!
Krystal Emery
Director
This month we are highlighting new Pet Prescription Team Member Alfonso Garcia and his German Shepherd Satchmo (Satch). Satch is a 6 year old German Shepherd that was a gift to Alfonso from the president of the Riverside/ San Bernardino German Shepherd Dog Club. Alfonso has been a member of the club for two years, and Satch has been with him for the past year. Satch was a former show dog as a puppy but lost a tooth and was unable to continue showing. One might say the Tooth Fairy knew Satch had a better calling in life and the loss of his tooth was really a win win for both Satch and Alfonso.
Alfonso decided to join the Pet Prescription Team to have an opportunity to make patients smile. When he was 8, Alfonso had cancer and was in treatment for 6 years. During this time, he only had his dad as the rest of his family was in Mexico. He remembers how lonely he felt during that time, and hopes that he and Satch can bring happiness and companionship to other patients during their difficult times.
As you can see, Satch is already a hit at the library. The PPT welcomes Alfonso and Satch to the Team and knows that both of them, with their special background, will be a great addition to our therapy team.
Park Regency
1750 W La Habra Blvd, La Habra
1st and 3rd Monday each month at 9:30 AM
Team Leader: Cristi Jones
562-691-8347
Email rjandcjones@earthlink.net
Presently we have lost 3 Assited Therapy animals for this facility. WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please... if you could help us at this facility we would highly appreciate it. There are many of you that have been looking for a facility and are avbaliable to visit on Monday mornings.
Claremont Place Assisted Living
120 W. San Jose Ave
Claremont
2nd Saturday of each month fro 10-11:00 AM
PPT Leader: Randi Munsey
909-628-4214
Email:mplsv@verizon.net
Randi Munsey set this facility up for those that are in the Inland Empire area. She really needs more volunteers to join her and we have plenty of volunteers in that area to fill this facility. We also have plenty of volunteers that have been asking for weekend visits so this is a great opportunity for those that are interested.
Imperial Convalescent Hospital
11926 South La Mirada Blvd
La Mirada
1st and 3rd Tuesday at 2:00 PM
We presently have 2 volunteers visiting at this facility but we are in need of more. If you would like to visit at this facility please contact Krystal at: 562-694-8090
or by email at: krystal@petprescriptionteam.com