Retirement Community Gets Furry Visitors to Liven Up COVID-19 Quarantine
May 7, 2020
Residents at The Middletown Home retirement community recently received some very special visitors. Local animal rescue and service organizations brought animals to the facility and made one-on-one visits to each resident’s window. The smiles and joy these visits brought went a long way in helping liven up the extended quarantine these high-risk residents are enduring.
Puppy Parade Featuring Service Dogs
Therapy dogs from Susquehanna Service Dogs went window to window, sharing their love and comfort right through the glass. Participating dogs included Safari, an eleven-month-old Golden Retriever; Guinness, a year and a half old black Lab; and Blanche, a five-year-old Golden Retriever. Blanche is The Middletown Home’s own “Facility Dog,” so her presence was especially appreciated.
Surprised Residents Greeted Horses Warmly
Imagine their surprise when residents answered a knock at their window to find two horses swinging by to say, “hello!” The delight was apparent and written all over the resident’s faces. Rosie and Lenny were big hits in this effort to keep residents entertained. Lenox, “Lenny,” is a rescue horse owned by Samantha Horn. Rosie, a mustang who was once labeled “untameable,” is cared for by Olivia Bort. Bort adopted Rosie through the Bureau of Land Management. Rosie and Lenny both live at Justamere Farm in Middletown.
The Middletown Home Staff is Working Hard to Keep Residents Happy
This time is challenging for us all. It’s especially trying for those who are high-risk and must be very strict about following CDC guidelines. Many of the community members at The Middletown Home have been completely isolated during this time. In addition to organizing these friendly animal visits, the staff at The Middletown Home have started a “Family Video Call” program. It’s a thrill for these retirees to be able to chat directly with their loved ones in this format. Pastors are making regular visits to the residents, and the staff has put together activity packs, as well. Residents can stay busy and beat the boredom of quarantine with puzzles, word searches, crosswords, coloring pages, and more.
Louis Vogel, III, Chief Executive Officer at The Middletown Home, told ABC24, “We hope that this quarantine will be over soon, but we certainly have learned a lot about the strength there is in community, the importance of connection, and the love that can overcome any distance.”
It’s so heartwarming to hear positive stories like this during such a challenging and lonely time. Seeing communities come together to put smiles on faces and love into people’s hearts is a huge silver lining in this unprecedented situation.
Most Recent News
Former Victoria man’s diabetic alert dog helps him get back to life
June 2, 2021
When Luke Hengen’s diabetes worsened in his early twenties, it stripped him of the outdoor activities where the country kid felt at home. Countless wilderness adventures and years of hard-fought football games took a toll on his body, to the point where he could no longer sense when his blood sugar was too high or […]Students Get Therapy Dog
January 8, 2021
When middle school students return to class on Jan. 11, they’ll find a new face at the door: Daisy. Daisy is a therapy dog and the personal pet of Rob Kreger, principal of the Rock L. Butler Middle School. The five-year-old golden retriever is not a school pet or mascot, but rather a working dog […]Therapy Dogtor
January 8, 2021
Last March, Caroline Benzel, a third-year medical student, began to notice the stress and discomfort her nurse friends were feeling from the pressures of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. “[Personal protective equipment] can be really rough on the skin,” Benzel, 31, tells PEOPLE. Benzel and her 3-year-old Rottweiler, Loki (who’s also a therapy dog) hatched a […]Therapy Dog Pups
January 8, 2021
When Stanley the miniature fox terrier’s owner passed away, the little dog started a ‘paw-some’ new role – bringing puppy love to some of the Gold Coast’s oldest residents. After Carinity Cedarbrook Diversional Therapist Julianne Staff adopted Stanley, he began visiting the aged care community at Mudgeeraba as a therapy dog. Therapy dogs help to […]Puppy Cams
January 7, 2021
A nonprofit is providing an unusual form of therapy for those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic – puppy cams! “You spend five minutes with a puppy and try not to smile,” said registered nurse Robin Lingg Lagrone. Lingg Lagrone says watching little furballs wag their tails and prance on their paws helps […]Pet Committee
January 7, 2021
When Moore County’s school doors were abruptly closed earlier in 2020, two- and four-legged volunteers from the Moore County Citizens’ Pet Responsibility Committee (PRC) were in their 12th year of presenting a six-session Pet Responsibility Education Program for fourth-graders. The PRC quickly shifted gears and placed its program materials online as part of a home […]The Right Rescue Dog
January 7, 2021
If your New Year’s resolution is to add a canine family member, good for you. Somewhere out there is the perfect puppy or adult dog for your family. You have a lot of things to think about when you begin to look for that new family member, puppy or dog? Large or small? Purebred or […]Police Dog Attack
January 7, 2021
A resolution headed to the Duluth City Council on Monday could put to rest a lawsuit filed by Teri Lynn Ehlers, an employee of the Patch Motel, who was bitten by a Duluth police dog named Oakley. Former Duluth Police Officer Marc Johnson was a registered guest of the Warroad establishment May 28, 2018, when […]PAWS With A Cause
January 7, 2021
Pebble Hill Plantation and the Thomas County Public Library are pleased to announce the upcoming Enlightening Bites program, “PAWS With a Cause,” on Friday, January 8, 2021 at noon in the Flipper Room of the Library. The program is being presented by Jeri Anderson, field representative. Anderson is recently retired from the City of Monticello, […]Police Canine Team
January 7, 2021
Kingston Police revealed in a news release late Wednesday afternoon that they’ve been keeping a four-legged secret for roughly three months. The force announced it added a second canine unit, with the arrival of police service dog Dak this past October. He is working with Const. Jeff Dickson, while police service dog Bask is working […]
