Professional Photography  by Photographer Lewie Krueger of
"I Shoot Dogs"^sm
in Omaha NE

BUDDY, Natural Therapy Dog by Tami Skarin

Anna was admitted to the nursing home following a severe stroke. As a speech therapist, I had been called in to work with her. She lay in her bed in fetal position and showed no signs of response to voice or sounds or movements. A feeding tube provided her nutrition. Her daughter told me that Anna has been a quiet person, who had always loved animals. After several days of trying to reach Anna, I knew that conventional methods of therapy were not going to reach her. I was not able to tell whether she could hear or understand anything that happened around her. I discharged her from my caseload, but promised Anna that I would come see her every day. Her daughter had returned to her home on the east coast and Anna’s still form seemed so unreachable.

The next day, Buddy and I visited again. Once again, Buddy became very quiet and gently approached the bed, pushing himself closer. I took Anna’s hand and moved it over Buddy’s head and face. He held completely still, his head resting on Anna. There was such a sense of partnership between Buddy and me as we both strained to reach this woman who was hiding deep within herself. We followed this pattern day after day, and by the fifth day, Anna’s eyelids fluttered when I told her that I had brought Buddy to see her again. Then, after a week, when I asked Anna if she wanted to pet Buddy, her hand slid out from under the covers and she began to pet him by herself!! Tears flowed down my cheeks as I watched Buddy soundlessly move himself as close to Anna as he could get without climbing into her bed. Over the next few weeks, we saw Anna move from complete non-responsiveness to a smiling, loving woman. I put her back on my caseload and she began to work on regaining her speech. I brought in an unending stream of pets, but Buddy remained my co-therapist, soundlessly coaxing Anna back to a place in this world. He was undaunted by her move from bed to wheelchair and continued to press close to her, head on her lap, always remaining perfectly still for as long as she wanted to pet him. He would often use the traditional “Doberman flip” to move her paralyzed hand so that it rested on top of his head. Soon, that hand was stroking his head.

For the months that I fostered Buddy, he went to work with me almost every day. He was loved by all the residents at the nursing home, some of whom needed to overcome their learned prejudices against Doberman pinschers. The nursing home administrator immediately determined this gentle dog was an asset to the facility and had no problem allowing him to visit residents daily. In fact, she asked her superiors if they could adopt him, but sadly, Doberman pinschers are remembered more as they are portrayed in movies than in real life… One night, working late on paperwork, Buddy left my feet to go visit a family holding a midnight vigil near the bed of a loved one who was not expected to make it through the night. Buddy comforted each one and they later told me that they believed he knew he was comforting them, and that he was just exactly what they needed at that moment to help them through the night.

Anna made a nearly complete recovery, regaining her speech and her ability to use her arms. The feeding tube was removed and she ended up living another seven years. She was a joy and a delight to everyone who came to know her with her big smile and gentle, quiet manner. I will always believe that Buddy saved her life, willing her to return to a life that would have been terrifying for her to face alone. With no training or experience, he showed an uncanny sensitivity to her depression and isolation. I wondered if perhaps the dog, chained or caged in isolation in the barn could identify with her despair.

Through the work of Doberman Rescue, Buddy went on to find a loving home, too. For the short time he was with us, he made an impact not only on our lives forever, but made a huge difference in the life of one nursing home bound woman.

Thank you, Doberman Rescue. For caring enough to rescue these dogs!!