Pet therapy: Affectionate furry friends cheer elderly residents

The Arbors residents Leanna Bird, center, and Mary Coad pet Coco, a miniature long-haired dachshund, as his owner and registered pet therapist Patty Rebuck, left, looks on, holding Lacey. (Sydney Stonner/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Coco and Lacey visit Westport Estates and The Arbors almost every week, usually on Tuesdays. Patty Rebuck takes them to visit friends, and there's always lots of hugging, kissing and wagging of tails. That's right, tails.

Coco and Lacey are miniature long-haired dachshunds, trained and certified to provide pet therapy. Coco, a 2-year-old male, has been "working" for more than a year; Lacey, a 1-year-old female, is newer to the job.

Rebuck accidentally became involved in pet therapy when her former veterinarian recommended attending a training session because Coco is "so outgoing, loving and gentle," she said.

So they went, owner and dog, and Rebuck was hooked.

"When I found out I enjoyed doing this so much, I thought, 'You know, I'm going to move forward with this,'" she said.

She began visiting nursing homes around Marshall -- she regularly goes to Golden Oaks as well -- and some even farther away, like Sweet Springs Villa and facilities in Sedalia and Brunswick.

After Rebuck got Lacey, she began training her to make visits, too.

"I started bringing her as soon as I felt she was old enough to handle it," she said.

On Thursday, Aug. 27, Rebuck and her dogs stopped by Westport to make the rounds.

"Oh, I love these dogs," resident Liz Hoey said.

Separately, both animals sat on her lap. She cuddled them and joked, "I'll just keep one."

Down the hall, Coco and Lacey performed tricks for a few ladies -- sit, shake, roll over, play dead -- along with the regular lap sits.

"They're awful cute," Dorothy Samuels said, stroking Coco's dark brown fur. "Soft and silky."

In the future, Rebuck hopes to include two miniature horses as part of her pet therapy. Both geldings, Chico and Buckshot are yearlings that still need quite a bit of training, Rebuck said. Plus, she doesn't have a way to transport them, and a horse trailer costs money.

Rebuck already takes time away from working at the Palomino Horse Association to take the dogs visiting.

She doesn't charge for her services, she said, though she asks for donations to help pay transportation costs when she drives a longer distance.

"We're trying to get enough sponsors to fund the program, so we can continue doing it without charging," Rebuck said.

But for Rebuck, the real payment is seeing the residents smile and laugh when they play with Coco and Lacey.

"They're sweet people," she said. "It's a very rewarding experience."

For more information, contact Rebuck at 660-859-2064 or visit www.palominohorseassoc.com.

Contact Sydney Stonner at marshallbusiness@socket.net