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Show Wed/Thurs/Fri, April 4-6, 2018 The Park Record Logan therapy dog wins high honors from group after ‘nominating’ himself Doberman breaks stereotypes in role with hospital AMY MACAVINTA The Herald Journal LOGAN (AP) – Patrick is truly living a dog’s life – the 7-yearold Doberman pinscher with the ink-black, soulful eyes is tenderly cared for in the home of Bob and Katie Elder of River Heights where he works as a service dog for Katie. If that wasn’t enough, Patrick is fawned over each week when he visits Logan Regional Hospital as a therapy dog. His quiet, gentle nature brings joy and comfort not only the patients there, but also the staff. Most recently, he was named Therapy Dog of the Year by Intermountain Therapy Animals, a Utah nonprofit with a mission to “enhance quality of life through the human-animal bond.” While Dobermans are a German dog breed, his name hints of the Irish – although that isn’t where he got his name. Katie said it is silly, but she admires the breed because they are so athletic and graceful, much like Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing. When the Elders got him from a breeder in Montana, he was given the name Paws Here Always Dirty Dancing, but he keeps it simple and goes by Patrick or Pat. Patrick reportedly nominated himself for the honor in a letter to the ITA board. “I am getting close to retirement and I would love to be able to give my people one more big, special thing before I become a lazy, spoiled and pampered couch dog,” he wrote. Patrick was first trained to work with Katie as a service dog, providing her with stability and retrieving things for her so she didn’t have to bend over and cause further injury to her back. “He has this personality that is just so awesome, and I thought he might be wasting his talents because he was just such a natural,” she said. Service dogs aren’t typically cross-trained, Katie said, but they trained Patrick for therapy work, and he excelled. When he works for Katie, he wears a harness and vest, and when he does therapy work, he is on a longer lead with Bob in charge – all things that cue him to the job at hand. When the Elders visit Logan Regional Hospital, they alternate their visits between the Transitional Care Unit and the Behavior Health Unit, after a detour to Karen Carter’s desk for apples. “They are always so good at engaging with the patients . and he is always so calm,” said Carter, a therapeutic recreation specialist who organizes therapy opportunities for her the patients in the TCU. On a recent Thursday, Patrick visited Con Schwartz, a Hyrum man who has been hospitalized after having back surgery. While he doesn’t profess to be an animal lover, he said the visit with Patrick and the Elders took his mind off of the pain he was in. And in the hallway just outside of the TCU in the surgical unit, Rylee Parker met Patrick and just couldn’t get enough of him, so she asked if he could visit her room. Patrick was more than happy to do so because there was lots of petting and ear-stroking involved. A few doors down, they visited Mike Bowcutt, a Tremonton man who is looking forward to possibly going home after a week-long stay in the THC with an illness. He and Bob quickly found common ground in their military backgrounds, and he admired Patrick for his breeding. “I enjoy dogs,” he said. “I think they are bred for a purpose, and it is very clear that Patrick has found his niche.” Therapy jobs have sometimes been hard to obtain, but as people learn more about the special skills dogs have, that is changing. Patrick is also a Reading Education Assistance Dog and spends his time with developmentally challenged elementary school students who read to him. He is a perfect match for these students because he has the ability to listen attentively while they read to them, he does not judge or criticize them, and he lets them go at their own pace. He has shared his skills with veterans at the George E. Wahlen Veterans Home in Ogden, where the veterans frequently hid sandwiches in their pockets for him, and with university students who are under stress while they prepare for exams. Patrick is one of about 300 ITA therapy dogs, but he is the only one working at Logan Regional Hospital at this time. His photo will be featured on the ITA Hall of Fame in its Salt Lake City office, and he just received his certificate in the mail, in an envelope addressed to Patrick Elder. In his letter to the board, Patrick made it clear that the honor is not all his, because he has amazing parents. “They have crushed barriers that other teams have not been able to approach,” he said. “I am a big Doberman and my breed is not typically one that people think of as a therapy dog.” Some of the petS at NuzzleS & Co. lookiNg for love These animals are available to be seen at the Nuzzles & Co. Adoption Center and Rescue Ranch. Our Adoption Center is open Monday through Friday from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is located in the Tanger Outlets in Kimball Junction. Our Rescue Ranch is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed Sunday. The Rescue Ranch is located at 6466 N. Highview Road in Peoa. B-7 1990 2018 OFFICE SPACE For Lease OFFICE SPACE For Lease OFFICE SPACE 2210 South on Highway 40 Suite C, Heber City, UT. OFFICE SPACE For Lease 2210 South on Highway 40 Suite C, Heber City, UT. For 40 Lease 2210 South on Highway Suite C, Heber City, UT. 2210 South on Highway 40 Suite C, Heber City, UT. Very nice 1500 sq. ft. furnished office, 1.25/sq. ft., 9 offices. All updated desks and furniture. Kitchen area, conference room. Very nice 1500 sq. ft. furnished office, 1.25/sq. ft., Warehouse space 9 offices. All updated desksavailable! and furniture. can leasesq.all part, individual offices. ft., VeryWe nice 1500 ft.orfurnished office, 1.25/sq. Kitchen area, conference room. VeryPlease 1500 sq.updated ft. furnished office, 1.25/sq. ft., 9nice offices. All desksavailable! and furniture. call for more information Warehouse space 9 offices. All updated desks androom. furniture. Kitchen area, conference We can lease all or part, individual offices. Tren Grant 801-560-2789 Kitchen area, conference room. Warehouse space available! Please call for part, more information Warehouse available! We can lease all orspace individual offices. Tren Grant 801-560-2789 We can lease all or part, individual offices. Please call for more information Please for more information Trencall Grant 801-560-2789 Tren Grant 801-560-2789 Ava Bubble Yum Leo Ava is a 1-year-old Lab mix. She is a very energetic girl who loves to play. She plays with other dogs and seems to ignore cats. Ava is learning some basic manners but is a fast learner! She’s a happy and sweet girl who loves people! Meet Bubble Yum, a 2-year-old Shepherd mix who is just as sweet as his name! This energetic boy is ready to run, hike, and play. Bubble Yum is good on a leash, doesn’t jump up, and does well around cats and other dogs. He is ready to find his forever home! Leo is a 7-year- old Lab mix. This older boy deserves a good, loving home. He loves to be with people and will try to climb right in your lap. He ignores cats but can be dog-selective. Leo is learning some manners but is eager to please! Sweet Potato Introducing... Sweet Potato is a playful and adorable Lab mix lady who is about a year old. She is a fun-loving dog with great manners and lots of energy. She would be a great family companion and gets along well with other dogs. She may even do well with the family cat! 435-645-7139 www.marketatparkcity.com Please look for our insert in today’s paper! Yookie Ann Sue Siren Patrick Parade Yookie Ann Sue is a quiet and gentle Lynx Point Siamese mix. She’s about 7 years old, and she is looking for a home with a warm bed and lots of attention. Yookie will be a wonderful companion for years to come! Siren is a gorgeous cat who will lure you in with her beautiful black coat and lovely gold eyes. Unlike her namesake, though, she is sweet and friendly, and she only wants your love! She’s a 6year-old Domestic Shorthair who is sure to be a wonderful pet for years to come! Well, hello, handsome! This is Patrick, a 3-year-old orange tabby who loves to be loved! He’s an outgoing and social guy who enjoys snuggling, playing with fun toys, and indulging in yummy treats. Patrick does well with other kitty friends and adores people! Parade is a 1-year-old Domestic Shorthair with a unique patch tabby coat. She’s a snuggly sweetheart who gets along well with other cats and loves people. Parade isn’t shy and will jump up into your lap asking for snuggles and love! She’s a fun-loving girl who deserves a great home! WaNted: voluNteerS These Organizations are looking for volunteers. If you would like to include your group in this section, please email information to copyeditor@parkrecord.com. Please limit your entry to no more than 75 words PCSD Good Neighbors Program Park City School District needs volunteers to help adult English language learners or adults with limited literacy develop skills and confidence to live and thrive in our community. Tutor conversational English, English grammar, reading and/or writing. Morning, afternoon, evening and weekend sessions are available and the time commitment is approximately 3-4 hours per week. For more information contact Judy Tukuafu at 435-615-0216 or jtukuafu@pcschools.us. Peace House Peace House is a charitable organization dedicated to ending family violence and abuse through education, outreach, support services and shelter. Peace House is currently looking for volunteers 16 and older to assist in many ways. There are a wide variety of options workable with individual schedules. For information, please contact Abigail Morrison, Volunteer Coordinator, at volunteers@peacehouse.org or call 435-776-6036. People’s Health Clinic People’s Health Clinic is looking for volunteers who want to make a difference. We are open Monday through Friday and have volunteer opportunities (ages 17 and older) daily in vital sign intake, phlebotomy and Spanish/English interpretation. Fill out an online inquiry at www.peopleshealthclinic.org or contact Meg in our development office at 435-333-1863 Recycle Utah Recycle Utah, the primary recycling hub in Summit County for the last 25 years, is seeking volunteers. Get fresh air, burn calories, and make your community cleaner and greener. Help is needed in the front office, the warehouse, and assisting with daily operations. Recycle Utah also relies on volunteers at special events like Harvest Fest and collection events. For more infor- mation, contact Molly Brooks at outreach@recycleutah.org or 435-649-9698. Snyderville Basin Special Recreation District Basin Recreation is looking for volunteers with a passion for play to be Park Ambassadors. Park Ambassadors patrol the parks, interact with park users, report maintenance needs, assist with tournaments, promote park safety, and encourage an overall positive use of public space. For more details visit www.basinrecreation.org or contact Angie Greenburg at 435-640-8476 or email at agreenburg@basinrecreation.org. Summit Community Gardens Interested in learning about responsible gardening in a high desert climate or want the satisfaction of knowing you’re keeping our garden and community growing? If you answered yes, than Summit Community Gardens has volunteer opportunities for you! Our mission is to educate our community on sustainable gardening techniques and empower people to grow food locally. Help us achieve that mission by volunteering with us every week or on an individual project basis. Visit SummitCommunityGardens.org/volunteer. Summit Community Power Works Summit Community Power Works, a local nonprofit focused on energy efficiency, is looking for volunteers to staff outreach events such as the Silly Sunday Market. This is a great opportunity to take part in a community-wide initiative, be a catalyst for positive change, and leave a positive legacy. Volunteers must enjoy interpersonal communication and be willing to learn about SCPW’s goals and initiatives. If interested, please contact Erin Bragg at erin. bragg@scpw.org. For a full list of volunteer opportunities, visit parkrecord.com/volunteers |