AH AAT Update

The organization I volunteer through has changed their name from Denver Pet Partners (DPP) to American Humane Animal-Assisted Therapy (AH AAT). Since we mergred with AH in 2007 the name change was finally made to accurately portray our affiliation.

So Zeke and I had our first solo visit at TMCA yesterday. I think this was my favorite visit so far (although I anticipate that I may end up saying that after many other visits). I had some good quality visits with a few patients. One woman is going to be 94 next month and while she hardly pet Zeke, she sure did enjoy our company. She loves dogs so we talked a lot about pets and I heard all about her life. When she divulged how old she was I told her she sure looked great (and she did! Her hair was done and she had penciled in her eyebrows and she had fake nails). She then said "well, I'm not bragging but I don't have many wrinkles!" and then she said, "I'm not bragging again but back in the 1930's I was in the Miss America pageant." Too cute!! And possibly her funniest line...she was talking about how much water she had to drink and I said "that means you're in there a lot" as I pointed towards the bathroom. She said "I might as well go in there and dump the water out and cut out the middle man!" HA!! She was just awesome.

Another elderly gentleman I visited couldn't stop smiling and giggling as he was petting Zeke...he just loved him. Another patient kept saying how she was getting all of Zeke's good energy while she was petting him and how that made her feel better. And I had another great conversation with an 85 year old (she had to tell me how old she was when I mentioned the 94 year old...I bet she wasn't "bragging" either). What I learned from those two women as to what the key to longevity is and looking so great at their age: STAY ACTIVE! Get off your hiney and go for a hike, garden, fly-fish, have four kids to run around after, get a pet. It'll do you good.