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March 2009 Visits
Visit on 28 March
2009 -
Bishan Home for the Intellectually Disabled (BHID)
Hi Fellow Volunteers,
I have been to this home for 7 years +. Some of the long term residents remember
each dog, remember their names and eagerly look forward to petting them. I feel
that what I am doing is just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean would not be
less because of that missing drop .... I dreamed that I was at the gates of
heaven, and St Peter said "go back to earth" there are no PAT works up here!
A Big Thank You to the following volunteers who spent their precious Saturday
afternoon in bringing joy and happiness to the residents of BHID. Your gracious
support and commitment to this home is appreciated.
-
Lok Tin Chan & hubby Steven with
Bobby / Shih Tzu
-
Rebecca Kwan with Cocoa /
Maltese
-
Helga Khul with Hilde /
Labrador
-
Naka Mami & hubby Wen Choi with
Torey / Chihuahua
-
Lui Tuck Yew & daughter Emily
with Polar / Samoyed
-
Evangeline Koh with Pepper /
Shetland Sheepdog
-
Say Hoon - Helping Hand
-
Ching Yee, hubby Melvin & friend
Ching Lin - Observer
-
Mabel Ho with Silky / Golden
Retriever
-
Charlie Ho with Stallion /
GSD
A very warm welcome to Naka Mami,
hubby Wen Choi and Torey who visited BHID for the first time. They interacted
very well with the residents like a pro. I look forward to seeing them in action
again in BHID and other homes. A very warm welcome also to Ching Yee, Melvin &
Ching Lin who came to observe our activities. She will bring her dog Summer to
Owen for the temperament assessment soon. We shall look forward to welcome them
on board on our next PAT visit.
Boom! Bang!! Bang!!! I thought there was a human-quake at the centre of the
auditorium ... Stallion started his search & rescue barking .. Whao! I was
relief .. actually Tuck Yew was playing a Memory Card Game with a group of
residents ... they enjoyed themselves very much with loud laughter and cheers.
Steven did the same game with another group of residents .. brought in more fun
and laughter. A great achievement in mental development exercise. Thank you,
Tuck Yew and Steven.
Our achievements for the day were:
Cognitive / Communication / Socialisation Therapy
- encourage residents to call and remember the names of the dogs.
- memory card play to develop mental abilities
- stimulate conversation
Motor / Physical / Sensory Therapy
- walking exercise with therapy dogs
- encourage residents to stroke and touch the dogs
Once again, my heartfelt thanks to all the wonderful volunteers who help us
throughout the journey of TDS's life.
Happy Easter
Warmest regards
Charlie Ho
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Visit on 27
March 2009 - MINDSville
Dear PAT Volunteers,
My most heartfelt thanks to the following helping hand - healing paw teams who
came and provided physical, social and cognitive therapy to the ID residents of
all ages. Your precious time and efforts are appreciated.
-
Alicia Chue with Diva & Magic
/ Labrador Retriever
-
Corrinne Choo with Flapper /
Labrador
-
Francis & Evelyn Yip with
Cash / Corgi
-
Janelle Teng - Helping hand
-
Charlie Ho with Silky /
Golden Retriever & Stallion / GSD
PAT session has been a very positive
impact upon ID residents' quality of life. Those with special needs, special
attention is given to them who have the ability to interact with our dogs.
Encouraging the ID residents to take the dog for a walk, throwing a dumbbell,
helping them to touch and pet our dogs would increase motor skills. Every time
you see a smile from ID residents and/or you smile at them, it is an action of
love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. A true friendship continues to
grow, even over a longest distance, same goes for true love. The miracle is not
that I do this PAT work but I am happy to do it.
Our next PAT visit is to BMNH on Saturday 11th April. Please check out our
website for the details.
Happy Easter
Warmest regards
Charlie Ho
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Visit on 20
March 2009 -
Sunshine Welfare Action Mission Home (SWAMI)
--- March Visit Postponed
---
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Visit on 15 March
2009 -
Ward 66A Institute of Mental Health (IMH)
- (Many thanks
to Janelle, our new volunteer, who wrote this report!)
Hello Fellow TDS Friends,
Although it was raining heavily and the sky was gloomy on the afternoon of
15th March, the mood in Ward 66A was one of cheerfulness as both human and
canine volunteers brought warmth and joy to the patients. As always, the
patients were excited to meet us, with many rushing to the door to greet us
as we entered.
While chatting with us and playing with the dogs, the patients enjoyed a
delicious tea of biscuits (generously sponsored by the Lui family). After
their meal, many patients were eager to take their regular stroll downstairs
to keep themselves warm on this wet and cold day. This not only served as an
opportunity for them to engage in physical activity, but was also a time of
bonding as they socialised and interacted with the human and canine
volunteers.
Those who opted to remain in the ward were not left out. Besides receiving
physical exercise through patting and carrying the dogs, they were also
entertained by tricks performed by Stallion and McMug. The patients were
extremely amused by the “dog show” and the ward was filled with applause and
laughter. In fact, many were keen to perform as well and sang in the centre
of the room.
The patients were also excited to participate in the memory card game
organised by Elaine and Emily. This was a fun activity which was beneficial
for their mental development. Many were enticed by the chance to win prizes
and even encouraged their friends to join in too.
My sincere thanks to the dedicated TDS Volunteers who took time to visit our
friends at Ward 66A despite the heavy rain and commitments during the school
holidays:
- Charlie and
Mabel Ho, with Stallion/GSD and Silky/Golden Retriever
- Cathy Chia
and hubby Jeremy, and relatives Siew Ling and Maxine, with Suki/ Japanese
Spitz and Kuri / Silky Terrier
- Tricia Tan with
Freo/Silky Terrier
- Evangeline Koh with Pepper, Pongol and Perdi/Shetland Sheepdogs
- Pearly Cheong and Joshua Koh with
Caleb/Bernese Mountain Dog and
Gabriel/Rough Collie
- Shum Chin Yang with
McMug/JRT
- Eunice Wang with
Baileys/Shetland Sheepdog
- Jaclyn Lim with
Starkey/Shih Tzu
- Janelle Teng, human volunteer
- Ellen Eberhard, observer
- Elaine and Emily Lui and mum Soo Fen with
Polar/Samoyed
A warm welcome to Ellen who came to observe our visit. We hope that you had
an enjoyable time and will join us for future visits. Thank you to all the
volunteers for bringing warmth and the gift of friendship to others. I look
forward to more fulfilling visits and the opportunity to enrich the lives of
the patients at Ward 66A.
Cheers
Soo Fen
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Visit on
14 March 2009- Bethany Methodist Nursing Home (BMNH)
Dear All TDS volunteers,
The session at BMNH on 14 Mar 2009 was a good turn out of residents and
volunteers (both with and without dogs).
As usual, we had two half our sessions and saw two batches of residents come
down and the entire hall filled with smiles, laugther, conversations, feeding
and dumbell retrieval. Some residents were so enthralled to see us and the dogs
and were enjoying the company that filled the Hall of Praise that they even
asked to stay for the entire hour instead of heading back to their wards when
the first half hour was up. It's always a great feeling to see the progress we
have made and to see what joy it is for them to have us visit each month.
Our helping hands and mighty healing paws for the afternoon included;
1. Charlie and Mabel Ho with Stallion (German Shepherd) and Silky (Golden
Retriever)
2. Soo Fen and daughter Emily Lui with Polar (Samoyed)
3. Pearly Cheong and Joshua Koh with Caleb and Sam (both Burnese Mountain
Dog)
4. Louiza Chan with Grace (Spoodle) and Beautrice (Spoodle)
5. Lena with Sammi (Chihuahua)
6. Mami and Weng Shing with Torey (Chihuahua) on their 1st Visit
7. Rebecca Kwan with Cocoa (Maltese)
8. Ann Wee - Helping Hand
9. Kunshun - Helping Hand
10. Wen Chin - Helping Hand
11. Lishan - Helping Hand
12. Christine - Helping Hand (1st Visit)
13. Zhao Yang - Observer
14. Rachel - Observer (Friend of Sian Ann)
The highlight of the afternoon was when Stallion decided to make his mark and
pooped in the middle of the room. The residents were caught off guard and when
they realised many pointed over to Stallion and burst out in hysterical laughter
at the hilarious sight. Way to go Stallion!...U sure marked your territory in
the Hall of Praise. :-)
Thanks to Lishan, Kunshun and Wen Chin who's back with us again after a long
period of absence due to various personal committments. We definitely hope to
see you again in the months ahead. We were also delighted to have some new human
volunteers who came by to help out and spend the hour with the residents
eventhough they don't have pooches of their own. Thanks for the effort...every
little inch makes a difference!
Thanks to Pearly, Joshua and the two lovables - Sam and Caleb in being able to
make it and sparing the extra time to drop by for ward visits. Am most certain
that the uncles and aunties were most delighted!
Was great to see Torey fit in so well on the laps of the residents and also
taking time out to make friends with the other dogs. :-)
We also hope to see Zhao Yang's Shetland Cookie join us for the next home visit
once Cookie manages to pass the temperament test at the end of this month. Good
luck Cookie!
My thanks to Sian Ann and Jeslyn for all their hard work and arrangements made
to make each month's visit possible. Sian Ann, thanks for putting up the
signages to guide help guide all of us to the Hall of Praise for the session.
Finally, before I end off, please note the following;
LOST AND FOUND
Sian Ann informed that a stainless steel pet food bowl was left behind in a
brown paper bag during the 14th Feb 2009 visit. If you are the rightful owner,
please let me know and arrange to pick it up from Sian Ann in the next visit.
Thanks.
OUR NEXT VISIT
Our next BMNH visit is on Saturday 11th April 2009, 3pm - 4pm.
CHANGE IN VENUE:
Please note that the Hall of Praise or HOP will be the venue for our sessions
going forward as usual Multi-Purpose Hall is currently under renovations and
will be converted to more beds for BMNH residents.
Until then, take care!
Best Regards.
With Love,
Rebecca and 'lil Cocoa
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Visit on 13
March 2009 - Thong Teck Home for Senior Citizens (TTHSC)
Hi, Fellow Volunteers,
The late morning and early afternoon down pour threatened to wash out our PAT
visit to TTHSC but did not succeed and did not damper the high spirit of our
die-hard volunteers who turned up to spend quality time with the residents. The
moment we entered the PAT venue, every human and canine immediately interacted
happily with the residents. As usual, my k9 clowns, Silky & Stallion, went
straight to Mdm Khoo Chan who was always ready to feed them with her tubful of
treats.
Through these die-hard volunteers, we could continue our weekday visit to offer
multiple ways to provide dog therapy to those most in need and to share our
dogs' love and companionship with the less fortunate. I hope to see more
volunteers at our Friday's visit if they could make time for it, because we are
one big family who find PAT very meaningful and enjoyable. My heartfelt thanks
to the following:
- Alicia Chue with Diva & Magic / Labrador
- Francis & Evelyn Yip with Cash / Corgi
- Corrinne Choo with Flapper / Labrador
- Melinda Ann Michael with Chewy / Catalan
Sheepdog & Cleo / Dachshund
- Heather O'Brien - Helping hand
- Charlie Ho with Silky / Golden Retriever
& Stallion / GSD
Our upcoming Friday visit to SWAMI Home is
POSTPONED. However, I hope to see you on this Saturday, Club4Paws community
event. Your presence and support is appreciated.
Warmest regards
Charlie Ho
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Visit on 6
March 2009 -
Asian Women's Welfare Association Special
School for Children (AWWA)
Hi everyone
It was so wonderful to see all the children at AWWA after such a long break. I
wonder who was more excited the children or the dogs!!!!......hehehe
Many thanks to all the volunteers who made time for our little buddies at AWWA
today, Friday 6th of March.
We were glad to welcome a new human volunteer Say Hoon. She helped me with my
dogs Cleo & Chewy and she did it like a Pro...
After such a long break you can see that some of the kids were very excited to
see us, some had forgotten us and the dogs and some new kids warmed up very
nicely to the dogs. Nevertheless, we all had a great time on this hot Friday
afternoon.
The volunteers who made a difference in the children's life today were-
- Alicia with Diva and Magic (Labrador)
- Melinda with Chewy( Catalan Sheepdog) and
Cleo (Long haired Dachshund)
- Corrinne Choo with Flapper (Labrador)
- Say Hoon- a wonderful Helping Hand :-)
- Charlie with Stallion (GSD) & Sliky
(Labrador Retriever)
Achievments for today are-
Cognitive / Communication / Socialisation Therapy
- encourage the children to remember the names of the dogs, talk about
themselves .
- provide stimulation, conversation and companionship.
-asked them to name the body parts of the dogs
Motor / Physical / Sensory Therapy
- encourage therapy exercise by walking with the dog, throwing ball.
- encouraged the children to feed the dogs by helping them to open their palms(
most of these children have clenched fists)
Though it was a little bit chaotic at the beginning but in the end we all had
lots of fun :-)
Next Friday's visit will take place at Thong Teck Home for Senior Citizen. We
need YOUR support to make a difference to the
patients / residents. Please check the website www.tdspore.org for details
A MILLION THANKS AND BLESSINGS TO OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS!!!
Have a great week
Melinda |
