“I was so honored to be able to carry the WE MISS YOU sign for Tonka the Giant Therapy Dog . Watching the faces of these senior citizens as they walked to the windows in their room and put their hands on the glass to reach out to Tonka is something my heart will always cherish.”
Therapy dogs are a special kind of canine. They can be any size and breed, but the most important thing about a therapy dog is temperament.
Therapy dogs must be friendly, patient, confident and gentle. They must love people and enjoy being petted and cuddled, sometimes a bit awkwardly by older folks, individuals with autism and others.
Source:
Facebook/Tonka the Giant Therapy Dog
Tonka may seem intimidating at first. He is, after all, one of the largest breeds in the world. And he’s having a huge impact on one of the most vulnerable populations.
Great Danes are known as gentle giants. This gorgeous dog happens to be exactly that. Tonka was chosen by his dog mom to become certified as a therapy dog.
Source:
Facebook/Susan Peters-Fineske
For approximately a year, Tonka and his owner Courtney Leigh have been visiting the residents and patients at Cedar Pointe Health and Wellness Suites in Texas.
He has made a huge impact in a short amount of time, winning the hearts of everyone he encounters. However, with the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world, the senior care facility had to implement a strict visitor policy to keep its staff and residents safe.
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YouTube/KXAN
No one except for employees and care professionals are allowed in or out of the facility. That means the seniors are awfully lonely.
“We learned that with the recent events all therapy visits will be discontinued for safety purposes, of course, and containment. We really missed our visits, and I thought, what can I do personally, on my own, to try and continue some of the feelgood that this wonderful dog gives to everyone?”
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YouTube/KXAN
But Tonka missed his seniors and they missed him. So Susan found a clever way around the new policy without jeopardizing anyone’s health.
“He has brought so much joy.”
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YouTube/KXAN
Tonka knew something was amiss when he wasn’t led into the building as usual. Instead, he was guided up to the window on the exterior of a building.
There on the other side was one of his buddies. Tonka went window to window, greeting everyone with his goofy grin.
Source:
YouTube/KXAN
The residents were beyond thrilled to see a familiar face, even if it did have a bit of dog breath.
“It was heartwarming to see the look on the faces of the elderly when they were surprised to see Tonka in their window. When they would put their hands up against the window it brought a few tears.”
Source:
The Dodo/Susan Peters-Finekse
Some residents created signs to show Tonka how happy they were he came to see them. Watching their reaction was worth venturing out during the dangerous pandemic, to alleviate their loneliness if only for a short bit of time.
Susan Peters-Fineske, Courtney’s friend, accompanied them and carried a sign showing the residents how much Tonka missed them.
Source:
YouTube/KXAN
The seniors lit up when they saw Tonka’s sign showing just how much he missed them, too. They gestured at him through the window, wanting terribly to pet hm.
At one point, Courtney lifted up Tonka’s paw to press against the glass, touching a senior’s hand through the glass.
Source:
The Dodo/Susan Peters-Fineske
Courtney and Tonka plan to connect with the residents of Cedar Pointe as much as they can through glass windows while the facility isn’t accepting visitors.
Tonka’s breeder Bianca Ayala said she isn’t surprised that her former pup has turned out to be such a wonderful dog. Tonka was from her fourth-generation litter and is her first titled therapy dog. He is certified to visit schools, courtrooms and hospitals.
Source:
Facebook/Tonka the Giant Therapy Dog
Watch Tonka’s visit in the video below. It’s truly heartwarming to see!
One way you can help cheer up seniors in isolation at facilities is to write them special, heartfelt notes and mail them to the senior facilities.
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By Kristin Danley-Greiner
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Kristin Danley-Greiner is a contributor at SBLY Media.