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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday January 10, 2007 - 13 Living Oakville Beaver LIVING EDITOR: ANGELA BLACKBURN By Sabrina Byrnes OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 2007 United Way of Oakville Campaign Total amount raised OUR GOAL $ 57% 2.25 million United Way For more info: 905-845-5571 Phone: 905-845-3824, ext. 248 Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: angela@oakvillebeaver.com Pawsing to smile good for the soul in Oakville six months ago needs volunteers -- and their pets -- so that TPOC can branch out to as many local Seniors at Oakville's Post Inn nursing homes as possible. Village Long-term Care Facility are "We've had several requests from "pawsing" to smile thanks to some different homes. We can't fill those friendly dogs and cats -- and requests yet, that's why Therapeutic Paws of we're trying to get more "So many people Canada (TPOC). dogs," Simpkins said. Smiles, laughs and love animals. They Currently there are just plain old-fashioned come up to you, two dogs in the program. relaxation are just a few they love you, it's One is Simpkins' own benefits of the pet thera- unconditional." dog, Parker, a golden py program. retriever, and the other TPOC is a national Shannon Maclachlan, dog is a shitsu. program that has Post Inn Village Volunteer pet owners recently come to must commit to providOakville thanks to team ing one hour a week and leader Anthony Simpkins. according to Simpkins, the experience The folks at Post Inn Village are the is rewarding. first in town to try it on for size. "It's so hard to describe. I mean I TPOC is a volunteer therapy dog was a little apprehensive at first, but and cat visitation program geared to once you see a dog and a senior togethbenefit seniors living in nursing and er, a senior that doesn't get out and retirement homes. It can also occur at about that much, the experience alone other facilities where there is a need. ... seeing their face light up when the It has long been known that petting dogs come in and spending time with and stroking an animal can calm and them," said Simpkins. soothe a person -- there's even evi"They may not get a visitor for a dence of a faster recovery from surgery week, two weeks, or they may have had for patients who have ongoing contact a visitor five minutes ago and forgot with a pet. about them," he said. One of the major components of Seniors often bond with the pets TPOC is simply a visit with the seniors. and then really begin to look forward Simpkins' aim is to simply make the to the visits by Simpkins and Parker. seniors smile. Simpkins described a couple of inci"Our goal is to put a smile on some- dents when a senior was not very one's face," said Simpkins. "We just try coherent, but when Parker took over to bring a little happiness back into the visit, the senior became much somebody's life who's helped everybody more responsive. else out." See Everyone page 14 The volunteer program that started SABRINA BYRNES / OAKVILLE BEAVER VISIT TIME: Fred Hood, a resident at Post Inn Village Long-Term Care Facility, gets a visit from Parker, a Therapeutic Paws of Canada (TPOC) dog. TPOC is a non-profit organization that has recently come to Oakville and needs more volunteer pet owners and their pets to take part in its program. Introducing the Revolutionary Multi-FireTM Electric Firebox We Know MORTGAGES LOANS · LINE OF CREDIT "We specialize in hard to place mortgages" 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Mortgages Residential and Commercial Debt Consolidation Power of Sale Refinancing No Up Front Fees Up to 100% Financing O.A.C. Apartment Buildings and Construction Loans Self Employed and Discharged Bankrupts Buy, Sell and Arrange all Types of Mortgages Equity Financing - No Income Required Private Funds for Unqualified Bank Deals Please give. "MASONRY & FIREPLACE DESIGN SPECIALISTS" KINGSWAY INVESTMENTS LTD. Oakville Corporate Centre, 710 Dorval Drive, Suite 520, Oakville Effort Square, 105 Main Street East, Suite 1510, Hamilton w w w. c o b b l e s t o n e m e m b e r s . c o m 406 SPEERS RD., OAKVILLE ACROSS FROM RONA LANSING 905.337.2066 To donate, call (905) 845-5571. Oakville 905-815-8400 · Hamilton 905-526-6300