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April 2011 Visits

Visit on 30 April 2011 - Bishan Home for the Intellectually Disabled (BHID)

Hi Fellow Volunteers,

 

Happy Polling Day! I hope by now, those of us who are Singapore Citizens have exercised our responsibility to cast our votes for the government that we want.

 

We had a special programme for the afternoon on 30 April, with a special guest performance by the Volunteer Guitar Connection, singing a range of Mandarin, dialect and English country songs. Indeed they made that 'connection' with the residents of BHID, who always love to sing and dance! We are truly grateful for the commitment of the VGC to bring joy to BHID residents, who sang and clapped along to the music. 

 

After the performance, our dedicated team of human and canine volunteers, who came with a common mission, had a wonderful half hour of interaction, of friendly conversation, stroking, patting & feeding the dogs, and walking the dogs. The smiles these activities brought was priceless. 

 

My heartfelt thanks to the following helping hands and healing paws:

1.    Catherine Chan and daughter Samantha, with Yakuza / Shih Tzu

2.    Jennifer Yang and Darrien, with Rudoff / Mini Schnauzer

3.    Shirley Yew and Yao Hui, with Happy / Maltese

4.    Beatrice Low with Jony / Chihuahua

5.    Christina Lim with Brinkley / Golden Retriever

6.    Charlie Ho with Stallion / GSD

7.    Valerie Gan and hubby, with Sable / Shetland Sheepdog

8.    Soo Fen Teng – Helping Hand

 

We were glad to have Christina back with us after an absence of a few months due to work commitments. We are also seeing a greater commitment to BHID among our volunteers -- keep it up, everyone! It takes many months to build up our relationship with the residents, but believe me, it pays HUGE dividends! Also, a warm welcome to Keiko Watanabe who came to observe our PAT session. We look forward to having Keiko join our team soon.

 

 

Have a happy and blessed week ahead.

 

Warmest regards

Soo Fen

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Visit on 22 April 2011 - MINDSville

-- Visit cancelled --

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Visit on 17 April 2011 - Ward 66A Institute of Mental Health (IMH) 

Hi everyone,

 

Last Sunday was a very quiet afternoon at IMH. Only a few residents were out at the hall with us from TDS. Nonetheless, most of them had more time spent interacting with the volunteers and the dogs. It's nice to see how some of them participate actively in the activities i.e. feeding the dogs, walk the dogs within the hall, and asking the dogs to do tricks and jig saw puzzles. It's a nice way to spend a hot afternoon and wonderful to see the smiles on the ladies' faces. And many open up to our volunteers and chat with them. The atmosphere was definitely relaxing.

 

I think our buddies had a great time too. Many receiving praises and treats for the tricks they did.

A big thanks to those who were present:

1) Charlie with  Stallion

2) Ray and Calbury

3) Chin Yang, Lishan and McMug

4) Janice Ho and Zechy

5) Soo Fen

6) Hui Ru and Stanley

7) Josephine

 

TDS visits is a change of the routine for the ladies at Ward66 and it's something that some of them look forward to. We hope to see more of you next time :)

 

Best Regards, 

Lishan

 

All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all.
-- Cecil Alexander

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Visit on 15 April 2011 - Sunshine Welfare Action Mission Home (SWAMI)

Hi Fellow PAT volunteers,

We had a great turnout on this hot and sunny afternoon at SWAMI. The residents greeted us with their usual warm smiles and enthusiasm.
It was great to see all of them. The dogs and humans were ready to go. We went about our usual activities, some residents just love to stroke 
the dogs while chit chatting with our volunteers. Only a handful of residents went for walkies with our dogs.

Quinton, my goldie, joined us for the first time. He was all excited in the beginning, but calmed down to join in with our activities.
Hopefully, he will get the hang of it and contribute much more to future PAT activities. While we had a first timer dog with us, Silky and Stallion were
solely missed. Despite their dogs' absence, Charlie and Mabel still came along to lend their hands which is greatly appreciated. Charlie was great help, handli! ng first 
Reegan then Quinton. Towards the end of the visit, most of the volunteers were just contented sitting and chit chatting with the residents, while the dogs get to rest as 
it was a very warm afternoon.

I would like to extend my deepest appreciation and thanks to all that has turned up to spend the afternoon with us:

1. Gwen Wong with Chou Chou/Chow Chow
2. Julie Yeow with Nana/White swiss shepherd
3. Alicia Israel with Diva & Magic/Labradors Retrievers
4. Ray Sham Karam Singh with Cadbury/Toy Poodle
5. Valerie Gan with Sable/Sheltie
6. Fiona Seow with Quinton & Reegan/Golden Retrievers
7. Leanette with Toby/Poodle
8. Mable Ho (Helping Hand)
9. Charlie Ho (Helping Hand) 

A big thank you again to all volunteers who turned up today.
Hope to see you all again next week.

Cheerio,
Fiona & Reegan

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Visit on 9 April 2011- Bethany Methodist Nursing Home (BMNH)

Dear TDS volunteers

I was just thinking, if our dogs could read all the reports we have written about how they have made a difference at every TDS visit, they would be smiling from dog-ear to dog-ear :) Indeed, at every visit to every home, our dogs make such an impact; they are well-loved and their presence greatly treasured. 
 
Our last visit to Bethany Methodist Nursing Home on Saturday 9 April was no different. From the placid and steady Brutus, to the calm and serene Yaki, and dark and handsome Dexter, each one was distinct in his / her personality, yet equally charming and generous in their companionship and love. We all had a good time of laughter and friendly banter with the residents of BMNH while the dogs played their part in entertaining and cheering up the elderly. 
 
Many thanks to Weiqin, who put in much effort to print photographs of our Chinese New Year celebration and placed them in photo frames before presenting them to the residents. Also thanks to Mandy, who promised to bring magazines for one of the residents Jia Wei, when she found out his interest in reading. And finally, thanks to Michelle and Yaki, who made a special visit to Dennis in Love Ward, who was bed-bound due to a fall some time ago. I could see that Dennis, who always looked forward to our visits, was visibly moved to when he saw us. We sorely missed our stalwarts Charlie and Mabel, and their tribe Stallion and Silky, who were unable to join us that day.
 
For the record, we had the following in our merry crowd that day:
1. Sharin Lim with Dexter / Husky X Tibetan Mastiff and Diamond/Labrador
2. Mandy Cheng and Lincoln with Casey/Maltese X
3. Ivan Chang with Tag/JRT
4. Ray Sham Karam Singh with Cadbury/Toy Poodle
5. Michelle Loh with Yaki/Dachshund
6. Patricia Koh with Brutus/English Bull-dog
7. Weiqin, human volunteer
8. Kunshan, human volunteer
9. Soo Fen/human volunteer

Kudos to all for making time for our friends at Bethany. I know many are busy with work, social and family commitments, or just need time to take a break after a hectic work week. But know that your presence made ALL the difference that day. It's better to be a little late than not come at all!

We look forward to many more volunteers come join us at each visit. 

cheers 
Soo Fen

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Visit on 8 April 2011 - Thong Teck Home for Senior Citizens (TTHSC)

 Hi Fellow Volunteers,

We had a great time spending one hour PAT session with the elderly residents
who as usual greeted us with laughter and cheers.  They were so eager to
pet/feed/carry the dogs.  This visit I am very happy that one resident who
had always rejected my offer for her to hold Hayden on her laps actually
reached out for Hayden when I approached her!  There was not much walking
exercise with our dogs as most of the residents are wheel-chair bound but we
had lots of communication and socialisation.  Also lots of laughter and
humour especially from a 101-year-old resident and those sitting besides her
chatting with our multilingual Alicia!  "A Cheerful Heart is good medicine."
- King Solomon (Proverbs 17:22)

We had an observer, Wong Hui Yuan, who came with her dog Piggy / Chiwawa.
She has shown great interest in our PAT activities.  We look forward to
having them join our team soon.  We also welcomed Ray Sham Karam Singh with
Cadbury/Toy Poodle joining us for the first time at TTHSC.

My heartfelt thanks to the following volunteers and therapy dogs for making
another afternoon of joy and unconditional love to the elderly citizens:

1. Mabel Ho with Silky / Golden Retriver
2. Charlie Ho with Stallion / GSD
3. Alicia Isreal with Diva / Labrador
4. Ray Sham Karam Singh with Cadbury/Toy Poodle
5. Fiona Seow with Reegan/Golden Retriever
6. Ang Lay Hui with Hayden/ CKCS
7. Doris Chang - Helping Hand

Your support in making the visit a wonderful day is greatly appreciated.
Please keep up the good work and I hope more volunteers will come to support
our next visit.

Best Regards

Lay Hui

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Visit on 1 April 2011 - Asian Women's Welfare Association Special School for Children (AWWA)

Hi, Fellow Volunteers,
 
Please accept my thousand apologies for this belated report. I thought I have done it but on checking the webpage “recent visit” I realize I have not done it!
 
The children were excited in seeing us back after a very long 6 months break as our last visit to AWWA Special School for Children was September 2010. We had a good time interacting with the children as they enjoyed walking the dogs, patting, and reaching to touch the dogs. For children with special needs, the ability to interact with  a dog can have a very positive impact upon their quality of life.
 
A special ad-hoc AAT session was arranged by Nanthida, Occupational Therapist of AWWA, and  TDS volunteer, Steven Pang, and his lovely dog, Misty / Golden Retriever, with 2 of the children of AWWA. The area of intervention was walking the dog through an obstacle course including patting and feeding the dog. We hope to continue doing this ad-hoc AAT session with the same clients for a couple of sessions.
 
My most heartfelt thanks to:
  1. Ang Lay Hui with Hayden / CKCS
  2. Fiona Seow with Reegan / Golden Retriever
  3. Steven Pang with Misty / Golden Retriever
  4. Valerie Gan with Sable / Shetland Sheepdog
  5. Mabel Ho with Silky / Golden Retriever
  6. Charlie Ho with Stallion / GSD
 

Once again, thank you for your valuable time. Please visit our website for the details of our next visit.

Have a happy and blessed week ahead.

Warmest regards,

Charlie Ho

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