If there’s anything we love – especially on a Friday – it’s a hero in furry format.
We’d like to introduce you to Jeanie, a beautiful dog who, despite a cruel twist of fate which led to her losing one of her legs, spends her days making other people smile. The 13-year-old Pom-yorkie-poodle mix was found in Lake Charles, Louisiana in 2007, and was in such bad shape that she had to have a paw and leg amputated. After she had recovered, Jeanie found a forever home with local resident Lydia Chrochet, who trained the adorable pooch into becoming a therapy dog.She makes visits to nursing homes, schools and counselling sessions with amputees, as well as gives cuddles and kisses to children who have gone through or witness trauma at the Children’s advocacy centre. ‘Jeanie is pure love,’ said Lydia.
‘She has the sweetest nature and is very in tune with our emotions.
‘This is what lead me to have her tested to become a therapy dog, which she easily passed.
Jeanie is extremely popular – no doubt thanks to her adorable face – and has even had a children’s book written about her.
Apparently, dogs can be trained to use a scratching post just like cats! Get the directions for how to build a giant dog nail file here.
Lydia adds: ‘She’s been a therapy dog now for nine years, winning the 2019 Hero Therapy Dog Award.
‘She’s also the star of a a children’s book and she accompanies me to book readings and signings.
‘So technically, we work together… my husband calls us business partners. But she’s truly my best friend.’
However, earlier this year, the pooch suffered a health setback, when she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
Thankfully, the golf-ball-sized tumour was removed in July and Jeanie has made a full recovery.
Lydia said: ‘Jeanie is so resilient and she’s always been very independent.
‘She’s done well having only three legs for the most part, however, she has had some arthritis in her single front leg from time to time, but our family doesn’t mind carrying her around.
‘She also has a stroller she enjoys riding in. She also fought thyroid cancer this year and, after surgery, is doing quite well.
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOUR PET: Your dog can smell your feelings. In fact, your dog’s sense of smell is approximately 100,000 times better than yours. So it shouldn’t be shocking that they can in fact, smell things such as fear. When a human is fearful, they perspire, and a dog is easily able to pick up on this change.
‘Part of her thyroid, along with a tumor the size of a golf ball, was removed at the beginning of July and she’s been taking it easy and healing nicely since then.
‘There are several lessons we can learn from Jeanie.
‘We are all different, none of us are alike. It’s important to teach our children that it’s okay to be different.
‘I believe when children see Jeanie and read her story, they see that she lives a happy life and realise that she can do anything.
‘Also, dogs are wonderful “therapists”.
‘Through Jeanie’s pet therapy, we have witnessed first hand the positive impact dogs can have on someone who is healing or grieving, especially children.
‘Everything is better with a dog in the room.’
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