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Saratoga Sampler
Skipper makes career change: Guide dog to therapist
By Mary Ann Cook
FOUR-FOOTED DOCTOR: This therapist is four-legged. Saratogan Jim Schindler has a dog named Skipper, who is called a therapy dog, and the two regularly visit facilities that house the ailing and elderly--Mondays to Amberwood, Wednesdays to Vasona Creek and Fridays to Saratoga Retirement Community.
They've been following this routine for the past six years, ever since the two-legged side of the partnership retired from H-P. So welcome are these visitors that the labrador retriever side of the equation has earned the name Dr. Skipper. Regular clients routinely call out, "Here comes Dr. Skipper."
Skipper was trained as a guide dog for two years, but he proved too sociable for that role. Schindler worked with a woman who trained guide dogs, which is how he happened to inherit Skipper. She admonished him against calling Skipper's attempt at guide dogdom a failure: It was simply a career change.
Some 50 percent of dogs who are trained for the role don't ultimately become guide dogs, so there's definitely no stigma attached. Some dog personalities just don't fit the role. As a healer, however, Skipper is without parallel. He can jump onto a patient's bed without touching that person.
Skipper has been certified through two pet organizations, Canine Good Citizens and Hug a Pet of the Humane Society. Schindler can offer many examples of his healing powers. One time Skipper was positioned next to a patient who was so severely depressed he hadn't spoken for three months. But with Skipper consoling him, the patient uttered the words, "What a great dog." The man's wife cried in relief and gratitude. Another time Dr. Skipper was ensconced next to a woman in a coma and the woman--to everyone's amazement--actually responded, beginning to speak while petting the dog.
Pets can provide just the right stimulation, Schindler assures--that is, if one is a dog-lover. He makes sure the resident wants a dog in bed before urging Skipper up. "Never miss a chance to bring a smile to someone's face," says Skipper's owner.
Skipper and Schindler usually visit about 30 people in the hour and a half they spend on each visit: That's a lot of smiles. "I'm just the chauffeur; Skipper does all the work." The transformations he's witnessed in just a few minutes have been incredible, he says.
AMPLIFICATION/CORRECTION: Walter K. Palmer, who donated money to the JW House campaign to be used by families of cancer patients, donated $25,000 to the project, his second donation. An earlier donation to the campaign was $15,000.
Palmer was senior vice president of finance at Kaiser Permanente Health Plan before his retirement, and since the JW House facility will be built near Kaiser Hospital in Santa Clara, the campaign is dear to his heart, says his daughter Karen Anderson, formerly of Saratoga.
Palmer's focus on donating has been to better the lives of children. "What better donation than to the Kaiser he devoted his career to and [to supply comfort to] children with cancer," she adds.
Palmer recently celebrated his 90th birthday with family coming from Oregon and Alabama, as well as California. He suffers from Alzheimer's, and his companion's name is Nesya Fishstrom.
LEADERS FOR LEAGUE: The League of Women Voters elected its 2006-08 board recently and Fred Armstrong was named president. He's the first man to hold that office in the local league. Other officers are Marjory Bunyard, VP, programs; Ann Roberts and Linda King, co-VPs, membership; Dale Hill, administrative VP; Kay Gardner, secretary; and Marge Gorrell, treasurer. Directors are David Zuverink, Marge Lester, Nancy Hobbs, Sonali Batra, Meg Giberson, Dick Kelkenberg, Karlina Ott, Margaret Rezowalli and Margaret Bard. Shirley Hill headed the nominating committee.
OFF TO GUATEMALA: Saratogan Marty Schibler was so impressed with his trip to Guatemala with Helps International he signed up for a repeat trip, this one sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church of Bakersfield. This time he'll help the group of 15 build stoves to replace the open fires used for cooking.
Because the open fires aren't vented, respiratory illnesses result and burns are common. The new stoves are made of concrete block, and smoke is piped outside. The device uses 70 percent less wood than the old method. The group expects to build at least 80 of these stoves in the week it will be in Guatemala.
Thus, the stove builders will have firsthand knowledge about the way people live. In Schibler's earlier trip he cooked for the doctors and staff in the medical clinic.
HITS JACKPOT: Wanda D'Arezzo of Saratoga won a $3,035 poker jackpot in Reno shortly before embarking for home. She had been at an Assistance League convention, along with six others, and took the group out to dinner when the check came through.
Those who shared in the largesse at Kyoto Palace in the Pruneyard were Donna Hernandez, Lynn Sprague Susan Weber, Chrystie DeSoto, Sue Schneider and Norma Stewart.
Got a tip for Saratoga Sampler? Send email to maryanncook@earthlink.net.
