Greg and I have begun taking Toby to the Des Moines Veterans Hospital twice a month. We went through volunteer orientation and the background and health check last summer, but were waiting for a chance to do some physical therapy with the patients there, rather than simply making social visits. A recreational therapist called in January to say that Blue, the Cairn terrier she had been working with, had some back problems and needed to take an extended break from therapy, and she wondered if we would be interested in bringing Toby to work with her. She is a rec therapist, but continues the patients' physical therapy in the evenings, working with therapy dogs to make it more enjoyable.

We have been there three evenings so far, and it has been very interesting. Sometimes the patients walk Toby down the hallway, other times they sit with him and practice manual dexterity exercises. When walking, the patients prove that they can walk farther than usual when they have a dog beside them, and actually enjoy doing it. I have also trained Toby to ride in a wheelchair, and we are hoping we will have a chance to practice this with a patient soon. The staff is anxious to see a dog being pushed in a wheelchair by the person who is usually riding. How often do you see that!?

The manual dexterity exercises so far have included tying and untying Toby's bandana, taking treats out of a zipper bag, and brushing him with the hand on the side of the patient's body affected by stroke. Again, veterans will perform services for Toby that they are reluctant to do as exercises for a therapist alone. A dog is great motivation for getting up, walking, and doing nice things for a fellow creature.

And Toby has been just wonderful in this work. He jumps up on chairs so he can be high enough to be petted, sits on laps and beds, walks between the patient and me (on a double leash, so each of us can hold one), does tricks to amuse the staff and patients, and tries to follow commands from those struggling with speech aphasia. I couldn't ask for a better partner.

We love this work, because we feel that we are actually helping someone to get better. It's so lovely to hear that one of the patients will be going home in a few days, and to know that we have helped them become stronger and more independent. Greg and I are both army veterans, so we get an extra kick out of helping our fellow soldiers. And Toby just loves everyone, no matter what their rank!