8-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, May 24, 2005 Martindale Gardens canine visitor honoured Abused pi bu/i given medal to kick off 'Be Kind To Animiais Week' By LISA TALLYN Special ta The Champion A ssoon as the St. 10h11 Amnbulance Therapy Dog scaîf is tied around her neck, Hershey,. a nine-year-old pit bull, knows it's lime to go to work, says her owner Jennifer Waite. "She pulls me tto the builing." said the Georgetown woronaro. And tlhe seniors at Miltons Martindale Gardens. armed os th dog treais. eagerly an ait their T'hursdlay evening s sits os th Hershey and the other tberapy dog trom Georgetowns- a bu]] rnastiff named Madigan. Hershey osvas recogniLed with a medal t'or her good osork recenîly by the Toronto Hunoane Society durng ftie launch of Be Kind Io Animais Week. whicb ofiscially acknowledges tuie special bond beween people and animais. and tihe important roles animais play in the lises of' humans. Hosseser. once the prosvincial pit bull ban csînies lto eftect in August. Ms Waite said sbe belses es Heisýhes lAIs y Ào sot he able to partics- I-ate inl the tberap\ dog prograîlo aio longer, 'llie kms nil require hi tpît bulîs be niuzled ini public andIMVls aito saisi thes apt dogs aseint perited i o car a î1seI/le. In isOspsel lor Her shey an(]i tise 1noîs isnk this s lber cailline: r" aid Ms Vs aîte. llise Amrerican pet bull terrier. rescued irono a breeder who neyer showed ber lose or let ber out ot ber craie. bas been a tberapy dog for the past year. Hershey keeps busy She has visited residents in Extendicare and the Bennett Centre in Georgetown, and is a welcome regular visitor at Martindale Gardens in Milton. "They love it. 1They're down there waiting in the common roome," said Ms Waite of the resi- dents. Hershey laps up ail the attention and often lays ai thse residents' feet, on her back, ail four paws in the air, waitmng t have ber tummy rubbed. She offers unconditional love and fiendship to the residents, and, according to St. John Ambulance, the dogs in the programn help to restore the residents' self-confidence and self- esteem, and motivate seniors 10 become involved. They also caim people in distress and distract them from the pain they may be sufer- ing. Ms Waite had been looking for a dog tu do Hershey - wtso w»s severely abused mnd ovrcan. timen- doue OddCS 1tuswvlve -.proudly isph~ her Husnui Society -MOC01 . leowner enu welt. 5001w o à photo by SMON -a HAYTERITronto Star therapy work with when she found Hershey, who was on the verge of being euthanized, at a shelter through tise animal rescue organization she was volunteering with. "I feli in love with ber," said Ms Waite after spending a day wiîis the dog. "I was baunted by ber eyes.' She sad neighbours and friends were nervous wisen she said sise was planning 10 bring the pit bull home, but that changed once they gol 10 know Hershey. 'Now shes like the mascot of the street. Shes very caim, very laid back." She feit that Hershey had the perfect tempera- ment 10 be a therapy dog, s0 she contacted St. John Ambulance. Hershey was put tbrough a series of tests to determine her suitability - she passed - took the organizations training course, which consisted of mentoreti visits to seniors facilities, and shortly afterward the two began their solo weeldy visits. Sandra Hall - assistant co-ordinator for St. John Ambulance Ttserapy Dogs Halton His brigade - agrees Hershey is an ideal therapy dog. "Hershey loves people," said Ms Hall, who added that she feels Hershey knows shes work- ing and understands shes making a difference in the lives of the people she visits. "She bas a really outgoing, sparkling person- ality," said Ms Hail. She said many residenîs Hershey visits are surprised when they are told they are petting a pit bull. "People reaet to the word, not the dog," said Ms Hall. Ms Hail said St. John Ambulance is lobbying 10 keep dogs like Hershey in the program after the ban is in effect, and shes hoping tisat current pit butîs in the program will be covered by a grand-fathering clause. Ms Waite said the residents Hershey visits are also upset tisat Hershey may no longer bc able 10 visit. Many of them, some who were initially frightened by the fact shes a pit bull, but now love ber, wony about wbat's going 10 happen 10 Programming Schedule - Tuesday, May 24 - Monday, May 30, 2005 W7\COGECQ f Cogeco Cable Channel 1.4 1Imly Local hIOitSiOfl I 53- WIC IgdIiETI MU Olpon Sîimply afto 6IlS www.cogeco.ca NORTH HUTON STUDIO Laurier Plaza 500 Laurier Avenue Milon, ON L9T 4R3 905-878-9306 OSer levas hConiectiivi Simpiuy anon ali, SilsiiCuîci May 16 2005 Piu00esi 1i1 EXTRA Auo lEpefli (Live) Uny 24 M1 555ly Hait n 5:ICItm PIuonOiIn! 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