

	Featured Story		Dog of the Day

Kiki

Please Note: The dog in the accompanying photograph is the subject of the story, but the child or teenager pictured is probably not the patient in the story.

Hello! My name is Keitaro, which means “blessed” in Japanese, but I go by “Kiki” to make things easier. I am what they call a chocolate Pomeranian; in other words, I’m spoiled. I am here to tell you how proud I am about my job with Love on 4 Paws, which I take very seriously. I was accepted as a therapy dog with Love on 4 Paws in October of 2007. It was very exciting! I got a cool green vest, a name tag with my picture on it, and a Polaroid camera to take pictures of me with the kids!

Now that I’ve gotten all the technicalities out of the way, let’s get to the visits. Visiting the hospitals has been an amazing experience for me because I know how much I have helped some of the kids feel better instantly. Whether I have made a patient smile, comforted his family, or entertained the staff, I know I have done my job for the day. It makes me happy to know that I have helped.

On Christmas day 2007, I wore my Santa suit and headed out to Shriner’s Hospital for a visit. There was one patient who was so happy to see me, and let me tell you… I was happy to see her too! I had seen her twice before, but this visit was very special because I was in my Santa suit. My mommy picked me up and put me on her lap. She was in a wheelchair and couldn’t use her hands. She couldn’t pet me, but she dug her face into my face and chest and instantly seemed happier. Sometimes I make the kids forget all about their pain. My Mom takes pictures of us and lets the kids feed me treats. It works out great!

Love on 4 Paws is an amazing program, and I am blessed to be a part of it! Who said doctors and nurses are the only ones who can make you feel better? How about some fur, a wagging tail, and a wet nose? Take it from me, DOG THERAPY WORKS!

Volunteers make a difference, one doggy at a time!