“One day, I thought, why don’t we start a pet therapy program,” says Burner. “As pet owners, we love our dogs, and we thought others would too. I went to meet with Elke Martin, Greenspring’s volunteer coordinator, and she thought it was a wonderful idea.”
In April 2005, after receiving the appropriate training, including temperament testing and health certification for the dogs, Greenspring dogs and their owners sprang into action. “We visit Renaissance Gardens, Greenspring’s assisted living facility, four times a month,” says Burner.“Everyone gets so excited, and many now know our dogs by their names. I really love it, and my dogs Itsy and Bitsy love it too. It’s amazing, but people who won’t talk to other people really light up in the presence of our dogs.”
Word of the popular program spread quickly. Mount Vernon Lee Enterprises (MVLE), an organization catering to adults with disabilities, contacted Greenspring asking for volunteers and their dogs to share time with their community as well. The volunteers now visit MVLE once a month and received the “2007 Volunteer Program of the Year” award from the organization.
Model behavior
When the Greenspring dogs aren’t busy volunteering, many choose to put their best paw forward in the annual pet parade, a popular tradition started in 2003 by dog owner Thelma Ledger.
This year, the parade took place a week before Halloween, providing the pets the perfect opportunity to show off their favorite costumes to an audience of more than 200 people. Greenspring Wellness Manager Brad Hibbs served as the master of ceremonies, detailing specifics about the dogs and their costumes as they proceeded down the runway.
“It is always so much fun,” says Burner. “My girls are very active little ones.”
“This year, Mazzie dressed up like a queen, a testament to her personality,” says Mrs. McCurdy. “Many of us joke that we spend more time making costumes for our dogs than we did for our children.”
At the completion of the parade, each canine participant receives a certificate and a goodie bag.
A place to run
According to Mrs. McCurdy, at last count there were 50 dogs living at Greenspring. Earlier this year, the group proposed the creation of a small dog park on campus that would allow the dogs to run off-leash in a safe and unobtrusive environment.
On May 2, 2008, the group celebrated the grand opening of Greenspring’s “bark park.” The park features a double gate, allowing dog owners to bring their pups through the first gate, remove their leash, and then open the second gate to let them join the others playing inside. This design ensures that no dog wanders out while another enters. The park also includes a picnic table for the owners, allowing them to sit and talk while their charges play with one another.
“It really is a gem,” says McCurdy. “We’ve always had wonderful places on campus to walk our dogs. This is a great place to allow them to run safely without bothering anyone.”