MELBOURNE CUP
We ran our own Pets For Therapy Cup race at Galleon Gardens with the dogs dressed in silks and toting jockey’s to the delight of the (racegoers). Bruce (6 year old Shih Tzu) was a little slow out of the barrier , Misty did well over the hurdles Sunny Boy was well backed and Bandit stole the show. Frank and Kyle looked dapper in their Gold Coast colours and silk jockey hats there was much laughter and cheers for the favourites.
RAFFLE
The Melbourne Cup Raffle to the value of $150.00 donated by Cavell and Frank and Sunny Boy again this year was drawn at a wonderful luncheon which we attended at Linda’s Place, hosted by Linda & Derek at Golden Crest Manors Nerang was won by Carol , a resident of Golden Crest Manors, congratulations Carol and thank you to all the wonderful volunteers and friends for selling tickets to help raise much needed funds to help this wonderful service to the Gold Coast community to continue .
OZ-CARE DAY RESPITE
At Burleigh we began our Christmas Theme as we have so many facilities to visit through the festive season. We were joined by our very busy university student and dog trainer Lisa-Maree and her most talented black Labrador Buddy Sue & Peter and theirtwo toy Poodles Kobi & Lucy and no show without Misty , all dressed for the occasion in their Christmas finery. The audience
were delighted to see such talented dogs and we were then surprised with a lovely gift of hand made cards by Katrina D/T to help us as we send so many cards , get well , birthdays etc throughout the year..Many thanks Katrina & Oz-Care day Respite staff.
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THE TERRACES
We continued the Christmas theme and were joined by Cyn-D and her very smart Border Collie Bee-Cee. Cyn-D, a very busy person is chief instructor at the G.C.D.O.T.Club and also a professor at Bond Universit, yet she can still find time to volunteer with Pets For Therapy for many years now with numerous dogs she has trained, some as assistance dogs or service dogs now doing great work for the disabled , Bee Cee has won many awards and delights our audiences with her many skills. Susan , all the way from the USA came along as handler for Dizzy, Curly Coated Retriever X , also trained by Cyn-D, even though he was a little timid to become an assistance dog he has a wonderful temperament, also talented and loves pats time, Sunny Boy and Misty joined in, the residents are overjoyed being able to interact with the dogs and volunteers and a lovely morning was had by all who attended.
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DISABILITY SERVICES CHRISTMAS PARTY
What a wonderful welcome we received by the children, parents and staff at Fecs Christmas Party Labrador where ‘Pet Therapy’ was so evident, the children interacting with the larger dogs and the small, even Santa had to stand back as many photo’s were taken of the dogs sitting up in our sleigh dressed in their Christmas attire, and our Border Collie Rein Deer. A great turn up by our volunteers, eleven of us and our dogs, that’s what volunteering is all about and we came away with warm
hearts and feeling blessed to be invited to take part in such a wonderful organization and being able to make their party special for the children. Many thanks to their professional photographer for his patience taking all the photo’s and presenting them to us all.
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THIS MONTH’S VISITS
Galleon Gardens, Hillview House Ashmore, Sandbrook Aged care
Masonic Care, Talley Haven
G.C.Homestead, Melody Park,
Milpera Cottage, The Terraces
Oz-Care Day Respite Burleigh
The Cottage Domain,
Southport Nursing Centre
DisabilityServices
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WHY PETS BOOST YOUR HEALTH
Few pet owners need convincing that a pet in the house brings health and happiness. For many of Australia’s pet owners, the thump of a dog’s tail or the rumbling purr of a contented cat is enough to bring on the ‘feel –good’ factor and all the evidence points in the same direction : pets can help you live longer. According to research pet owners have lower stress, cholesterol levels and blood pressure than their pet-less counterparts, one researcher observed a hypertension unit, she gave half the group dogs and the other half medication , six months later the pooch petters were doing significantly better, while the pill poppers still had high blood pressure.
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A SAD GOODBYE
It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of Grace’s beautiful Malamute, Chermuk, 13 yrs old, much loved by so many and a devoted companion to Grace, Grace was one of our first volunteers, visiting with us for many years and I hold her in high esteem . Chermuk will be sadly missed .
