Arkansas therapy dog gets medal

Spaniel recognized for making 400 visits

MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark.-The 22-pound animal is full of energy. He swings his tail left and right as patients circle in the Baxter Regional Medical Center's Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation to watch him perform old and new tricks.

Barney, who is 7-and-a-half, is not an average Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Right after his performance on Tuesday, Jean Gaylord, program director for the Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation, presented the dog with the American Kennel Club Therapy Dog Distinguished medallion.

Barney received the medallion through the American Kennel Club for completing 400 visits. He has visited several facilities, such as nursing homes, assisted living, BRMC and some private homes. It took the tricolored animal-who is mostly black, white on the chest and brown coloring around the eyes and mouth-five years to reach the milestone.

The Baxter Bulletin reports that Barney is one of several therapy dogs from a group named Paws of Love Therapy Dogs, which is sponsored by the Alliance Therapy Dogs. The handlers and dogs are registered through the Alliance Therapy Dogs, which tests the dogs, making sure they have the temperament to do therapy. The dogs visit nursing homes, private homes, libraries, schools and BRMC.

During the visits, people pet the dogs.

Co-founder and coordinator for Paws of Love Therapy Dogs Lynda Dudek said petting a dog triggers happy memories, as well as releasing stress-people would walk to the dogs to give them love, causing a calming reaction for people.

AKC had already given the medallion to Dudek, but she picked Gaylord to present it to Barney. Gaylord said a lot of the patients have dogs at home. The therapy dogs brighten the patients' day, she said.

She agreed that petting a dog helps patients release stress. Therapeutically, it could be used for several reasons. Some of the patients have had a stroke. The dogs can help patients with their overall mood, she said.

"(Barney) is very cute No. 1. He's very well-behaved," she said, noting that he's not a threat to patients who may not be comfortable with him.

Dudek said she picked Gaylord because she "loves" working at the hospital. Her dogs visit the Acute Inpatient Rehab twice a month from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. All visits are free. This is her way of giving back to the community.

It's a lot of work for the dogs to do therapy-it doesn't look like it, but when they leave, they're tired, she said.

"It's mental work for them," Dudek said.

Dudek said she's "very proud" of Barney for getting the medallion. She doesn't know how much longer Barney will keep doing therapy. He's turning 8 in November.

When he gives the signal that he no longer wants to go out to do therapy, Dudek will retire him. Right now when she grabs her therapy bag at home, he's at the door and is ready to go.

Barney can perform several tricks, such as roll-over, play dead, high five and more. He's Dudek's best friend: They cuddle.

She didn't know all these things were possible with a dog. She said she got active with him, and she's amazed by how many "different things" he has accomplished.

"He really does a lot of stuff," she said.

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