Dog a therapist for young and old

Heather Cory

Lucie, a pet therapy dog, visits with Dorothy Fischer on Oct. 8 at The Cottages of Green Valley.

By Becky Bosshart

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008 | 1 a.m.

Lucie the canine therapist

John Padilla gives Lucie, a pet therapy dog, a goodbye hug as she goes on to visit other residents at The Cottages of Green Valley Oct. 8. Bonnie Bonanno, Lucie's owner, takes her to visit the assisted-living facility once a week.

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One Book Henderson: Marley & Me section

How do I get involved in the Reading with Rover program?

A child who struggles with reading can be nominated for the program at any Henderson library or through a school. A nomination form is at www.mypubliclibrary.com

For information about volunteering with the program call 492-6581.

How can I get involved with the canine therapy program?

Registering a dog with Therapy Dogs International Inc. takes about two months. The organization developed the testing guidelines and pays for liability insurance. Visit www.tdi-dog.org for information and a link to behavior evaluators in southern Nevada. Once registered, membership starts at about $30 a year. Dogs must make at least four visits a year.

How do I know if my dog is a good fit?

Not all dogs are, said Liz Martin, Canine Therapists of Las Vegas president. Dogs should have passed a basic obedience class. An evaluator tests the temperament of the dog in a group, its manners and how it follows commands.

It isn't too often the serenity at this Green Valley assisted living center is interrupted.

On a routine day, old-time big band music plays low over the courtyard speakers at the Cottages of Green Valley. Residents calmly stroll along paths with walkers and seniors gather for Turner Classic Movies and the daily soup of the talk-show lineup.

But Wednesday mornings are anything but routine.

"Here comes the baby," cried Bonnie Wemm, an 81-year-old resident of the Cottages, as Lucie, an 82-pound yellow Labrador retriever came bounding in the room.

For many residents, a number of whom have Alzheimer's disease, Lucie just isn't any dog, she's their dog. They look at Lucie and see a dog from their past.

"Stories like that touch your heart, and you know you're doing the right thing," said Lucie's owner, Henderson resident Bonnie Bonanno, a member of the nonprofit group Canine Therapists of Las Vegas.

Lucie is one of about 100 registered therapy dogs in the area, said Liz Martin, the organization's president. Therapy dogs are registered by a national organization to visit nursing homes, hospitals and other places a comforting animal is needed. They are cuddled and fed. Often the dog is a welcome visitor for those who can no longer have their own pets.

After an early retirement, Bonanno decided to focus on volunteer work, and Lucie seemed to be the perfect fit as a therapy dog. For one thing, Lucie loves attention and she isn't a barker.

Lucie wears a red vest decorated with merit badges for her 200-plus therapy visits — this day she was on visit No. 284 — to seniors.

"They just light up," said Victoria Adams, the Cottages activities director. "It comforts them and makes them feel good."

Bonanno and her dog also meet weekly with those on the opposite end of the age spectrum. Lucie spends time at the library listening to children read to her.

"There is a certain magic with dogs and children," said Florica Hagendorn, Reading with Rover coordinator for Henderson libraries.

This program helps children who are too shy to read in front of peers.

The child practices with the dog and is corrected by its handler to build reading confidence.

Becky Bosshart can be reached at 990-7748 or becky.bosshart@hbcpub.com.