Hansen: Nothing like the comfort of a pet

The seniors sat around in a big circle, most in wheelchairs, waiting for the dogs to arrive.

It was almost like a family get-together. Playing on a TV in the corner was a daytime game show, but no one was paying attention.

It’s such a simple thing, petting a dog, but it means so much to the residents of The Covington retirement and assisted living community in Aliso Viejo.

About every month, the owners of Aiken Dog Training, Alex and Julie Tamaki, bring in about 10 dogs as part of a pet therapy program.

While the training is useful for the dogs, it’s clear who gets the most benefits.

The seniors light up when the dogs stroll in, and the smiles never stop.

“This is mine,” said one prim, white-haired woman in a wheelchair, pointing to a small dog. “I had one just like it.”

The dog’s owner carefully placed the dog in the woman’s lap, and the woman beamed.

There were about 10 volunteer dogs and their owners at a recent visit to The Covington in Aliso Viejo.

(David Hansen / Daily Pilot)

Most of the seniors were dressed up for the event. Despite the risk of a little dog hair, they wore pantsuits, church sweaters and blazers. They had silk scarfs, shawls and fancy hair brooches.

Someone switched the TV to a music channel, and 1940’s standards started crooning softly. The community room has a grand piano in the corner and pink wing-back chairs. It could have been a Saturday dance at someone’s elegant house.

“People underestimate the power of dogs and their companionship and their love,” said Julie Tamaki. “It’s just phenomenal. They give a lot of joy. Dogs really send a lot of therapeutic warmth to people who are either sad or have illnesses. It really perks them up.”

Tamaki said it’s a welcome tradition for people who don’t always get visitors.

“They really look forward to us coming at least once a month,” she said. “They remember the names of the dogs.”

The benefits of therapy dogs were first identified in 1976 when a registered nurse, Elaine Smith, noticed how well patients responded to a chaplain and his golden retriever. She founded Therapy Dogs International, and now there are more than 25,000 registered dog trainers across the country providing comfort to those who need it, including disaster stress relief and children’s literacy.

The Tamakis and their volunteer dogs also participate in a children’s reading program at Aliso Viejo Library the first Saturday of every month. For information, visit aikendogtraining.com.

Julie Tamaki said they added the library program after working with a client who had an autistic child. They realized the child’s reading improved in the presence of a dog.

“It brought a lot of joy, and the parents are really happy we have such a program,” she said. “The dogs are non-threatening. Sometimes with parents or adults, people can make fun of their reading skills, but the dog will just sit there and listen. And the child will look at the dog and it gives them a lot of confidence.”

Back in the assisted-living facility, Agnes is getting a lot of attention. She’s a nearly 4-year-old Great Pyrenees who weighs about 100 pounds and resembles a very large white golden retriever.

Owner Denise Fabbri of Aliso Viejo just got Agnes in May and is excited to volunteer for the program.

Despite being a relative newcomer, Agnes has the petting process down. She likes to look at the resident directly with her big, doleful eyes, and then she sidles up to get her back scratched.

Dog therapy has been studied and is known to bring more than just smiles, however. According to Therapy Dogs International, dog visits improve moods by increasing socialization, verbalization and alertness. There is also an increase in mobility and a decrease in blood pressure.

Tamaki said the dogs are trained for every contingency. While residents typically just enjoy the dogs’ company and pet them gently, there are times when things get confusing.

“Sometimes we go to facilities that have patients with Alzheimer’s, and they could get a little rough on the dog, pulling their ears and whatnot,” she said. “And we don’t want the dog to get excited and nip at the patients or anything like that. We do go through many exercises to prevent that.”

But the visit to The Covington was only filled with pleasantry and games. For example, Alex Tamaki gathered all the dogs into the center of the community room and told them to sit. When they were ready and settled, he said, “Find mommy.”

The dogs scattered to their owners like eager children. The residents all chuckled and shook their heads, even though they’ve seen the game many times.

In the background, the music continued with an upbeat swing band.

It was a party, after all, and everyone was invited.

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DAVID HANSEN is a writer and Laguna Beach resident. He can be reached at hansen.dave@gmail.com.