Dog Profile: Rupert the Therapy Dog
It's a fundamental part of Cesar's philosophy: dogs need jobs. Some dogs herd sheep. Some lead the blind. Some do police work.
Rupert the Black Lab is a therapy dog.
Rupert works with his caretaker providing happy distractions for hospitalized and disabled men, women, and children as a part of Love On 4 Paws, an animal assisted therapy organization. The dog volunteers help to combat loneliness, promote self-confidence, and improve the quality of life for the sick, developmentally delayed, or otherwise handicapped.
Adopted from a Southern California animal rescue at nine weeks old, Rupert first donned the green vest of the LO4P volunteers four years ago, after a co-worker suggested that, with his mild temperament, he would make a top-notch therapy dog. The man was not wrong. Though he never saw graduation from obedience school, Rupert’s mellow disposition allowed him to breeze through the rigorous screening process that all therapy dogs must pass through in order to qualify for the job of therapy dog. He has been known to sleep through the rush and the din of a Code Blue in the Intensive-care Unit. He is a registered volunteer at 3 different city hospitals, and has worked with hundreds of ill or infirmed children. He is, in the words of his caretaker, “all business” when he’s on duty—loving and gentle, with the patience of a saint. For the older patients, he is a quiet companion and confidant. For the younger patients, he is a living plaything, a dress-up dolly, a rocking horse, and a living, breathing teddy bear. At physical therapy, he catches the stuffed animals that the children throw to improve their hand eye coordination. And he weathers the constant love and attention like a pro.
It isn’t just the patients that benefit from Rupert’s dog therapy, either. Rupert’s caretaker was initially hesitant to enroll him in Love On 4 Paws at all, believing that her squeamishness in hospital situations would be a hindrance. On the contrary, however, Rupert's involvement in the program has been a godsend for her, and she has adjusted to her discomfort. For her part, she has found that volunteering with Rupert is a deeply spiritual experience, providing connection and communication on basic and natural level.
In the context of Cesar’s philosophy, it is a near perfect relationship – physical, psychological, and emotional fulfillment for human and dog, and a meaningful public service provided to those who badly need it.
