Chatsworth : Dogs Bring Happiness to Elderly Patients

Jim Forsythe, a 55-year-old resident of the Golden State Care Center in Chatsworth, sat still in his chair as a large German shepherd mix named Dozer slowly approached.

“Why don’t you pet him?” asked Kaye Michelson, who runs the outreach program of the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Control. Michelson and an animal regulatory officer from the county’s Agoura shelter brought Dozer, two other abandoned dogs and three homeless kittens to the center Wednesday for residents to pet during a visit sponsored by County Supervisor Mike Antonovich.

“Well, I like him, and he likes me,” Forsythe said. “Let’s just keep it that way. He’s still got all of his teeth--and I’m missing a few of mine.”

About 50 residents, many of them with Alzheimer’s disease, gathered in the center’s courtyard to meet the animals.

The dogs attracted the most attention. In addition to Dozer, a cocker spaniel named Benny and a beagle named Barney strained at their leashes and sniffed at the shoes and cuffs of the residents.

Benny stopped briefly to inspect the outreached hand of Steen Alton. “I love dogs,” the elderly woman said.

Antonovich said he organizes the visits every few months and considers them “a way to bring some joy and care” to people living in treatment centers and homes.

Maria Nunez, activity director at the center, said the pet visitation program is good therapy.

“These people, one minute, they can be happy, and five minutes later, they don’t remember why. So every minute they’re happy is important.”