Rufus CGC,TD, TT
January 17th, 2009...
5 1/2 years ago Rufus became certified as a therapy dog. we have done 80 visits a year, with rufus always looking forward to doing his visits.. we have shown this breed in a good light, and changed many people's minds about the pit bull breed.. We have gone to hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living, and elementary schools during the course of these past years.. Rufus always had a spring in his step and loved the attention he got from the patients and children. lately however, i have noticed small changes in him, from not wanting to interact as much as he used to, to yawning more, to sleeping more at therapy, to just not wanting to interact like he has done in the past., to finally not wanting to get into my truck to go to therapy. the past few visits we have done i have watched the changes with more interest.. i have always known he couldnt do this forever, and to get a wonderful 5 1/2 years of this was a true blessing.. So today while driving home from the hospital i made the decision to retire him as of today.. He will no longer be a therapy dog, and will no longer go visiting.. i am doing this for HIS benefit, as i cant deny the changes i am seeing, and its really not fair for him to keep doing this because of me, i want him to do it because he likes it, and lately, he is waiting to leave and just not happy.. so he is now a retired therapy dog.. i know i am making the right decision for him, as i want him to be a happy dog, not a dog who wants to curl up on a chair at the hospital and who cant wait to leave.
Passed the AKC CGC test (www.akc.org) on September 2003,Passed the Therapy Dog test on April 2004, passed the American Temperment Test on 5/15/05 (www.atts.org).
Rufus was Born 8/8/02. Rufus was born in a shelter. his mother was a stray. Rufus was adopted from http://www.co.burlington.nj.us/departments/animal_shelter/ Please consider them when looking for a new family member.. They are a fantastic rescue group.Rufus went into foster care, and i was looking to add another dog to my pack. since my gsd didnt like other adult dogs, we tried a puppy. Rufus came home at 2 months old and weighed 9 lbs..he got along great with my 2 other dogs and is a loving member of our household.
He does therapy work and visits the hospital, 2 nursing homes, and has the 1st and 2nd graders at the elementary school read to him. |
Date(s): January 6, 2005. Album by Maryellen Swiatek. Photos by Maryellen. 1 - 18 of 402 Total. 51836 Visits. |
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