We did our usual Delta Park double circuit walk in the morning and then I was thoroughly bathed and groomed in preparation for meeting some other PFP dogs and handlers and discussing future visiting venues and schedules... little did we know this was to be my FIRST (of 6) mandatory supervised visits which I need to do before I can become registered as a Therapy Dog.

Lesley De Klerk, founder and West Rand unit leader of Paws for People®, asked us to  be at St Michaels, Cornelius street in Weltevreden Park between 3:30 and 3:45 pm on Friday the 25th of June... originally it was really to meet some other therapy dog teams and discuss future visits... and mum asked whether she could bring me... and I cracked the nod. Being the nerd she is, mum quickly googled St Michaels and found a map... then being hyper-diligent she entered the address into her Garmin....

At 3:15pm (did I mention mum is conscientious about time... well, borderline anal if you ask me...) ...there we were at St Michael's  CHURCH in Cornelius Street, walking towards a smartly suited crowd milling around the atrium and entrance... NOT A DOG IN SIGHT mind you... So we practised a quick ABOUT TURN and headed for the security guard at the gate. This is the same dude who watched us climb out, rope up (put the leash on) and head purposefully towards the very UNfurry congregation... So, still under the illusion that we were at THE St Micahels in Cornelius road, mum enquired as to where the other people were D-O-G's were going to meet. Clearly the security guard thought mum was dyslexic, retarded or quite possibly from Sirius... Finally she had the good sense to ask if this was the only St Michael's in Cornelius street and we learnt that just nearby was St Michael's Retirement Village... so about 10 minutes later we arrived at destination, with mum feeling somewhat hot under the collar (not to mention red in the face!)

Mum walked in (first to arrive, despite detour) and met Geraldine who showed her where we would be likely to find the other peeps and paws before the scheduled visit. She came out and we did a meet and greet in the car... she LOVED me, I could tell! Then the others started arriving - a gorgeous blonde pouffed up poodle and a couple of sossies were the first I met. Daisy was a lady and more interested in mum's treat bag than me, BUT the daxxies were thrilled to meet me, especially the black long-haired little old boy... he kept rolling on his side and pumping his little leggies begging for my attention - he was smitten! Then a GSD, Winston, arrived and well we didn't hit it off quite as well - but his mother was clearly a talented mediator and she stroked each of us in turn and offered us each treats, very effectively defusing all tension and initial hostility. ...Soon several PAWS for PEOPLE handlers and therapy dogs had arrived, but alas no Les...

We tagged along and first met a lovely lady that everyone called Granny... Floyd the little pug told me she was in fact  his great granny, and that's why he had dibs on walking with her and sitting on her lap (if you've watched Men in Black, you would know that Floyd can actually talk!!!). I was assigned Gran's roommate, a grande dame, Dorothy - a sweet, friendly, chatty lady who was happy to show us the ropes. It was decided that the perfect weather was ideal for a stroll (or in most cases, a roll)... so we collected Dorothy in a wheel chair and rolled with the others down the ramp and into the ring road around the retirement village. Despite mum's amateur wheelchair driving skills we really did well - ofcourse it helped that Dorothy kept cheering us on and introducing me to everyone we passed. We did two laps and heard all about Dorothy's daughter who had rescued a golden labrador who was tied up on a rope in shocking conditions. We then met Dorothy's son who'd popped in from a visit, he too thought I was a fabulous lad! As it was getting nippy we called it a day at two laps and then ramped up the ramp into the home. I nearly laughed to see how hard mum had to shove that chair to get it to the top and I noticed her hands were so sweaty (she said it was the plastic handles of the chair and would in future try to remember to bring cycling gloves)... I think she was perhaps a little nervous ...she's not the most confident driver at the best of times :-)

We then sat down with Gran, Dorothy and all the other old ducks, handlers and dogs for a nice chat... and Les and GSD expert, old therapy dog Shiloh too. Poor Les had a bumper bashing en route, so had arrived late. It had been a mellow visit meeting Dorothy and being adored by the old folk... and I simply plopped down in the middle of the little lounge, with my head on the comforting slipper of my new friend Dorothy - she knew it was a far softer resting place than the linoleum floor! I got  my first of the mandatory six supervised visits signed-off, and we were soon on our way home... filled with the warm fuzzy feeling of not just having had a special day, but of being a part of making it an extra-special day for someone else!

That night as a slept, I realised I was already well on my way to becoming a therapy dog and even if Dorothy and her friends didn't remember my name, they would have a fond furry memory of this day, and look forward to any future encounters with me and my furry 4-footed friends (or should I say colleagues!)

I suddenly remembered we had forgotten to discuss future visits at all... I can't wait to know when next I can go and be a part of  the caring and the sharing between dog and man... I am sure it is as rewarding and therapeutic for me as it is for those I meet!