b'Counselors With Fur continued from previous page.How does it feel, Dawson?, askedColeen.Wet. said Dawson. He noted thathisfingerswerechangingcolorwhilehandling the blueberry.Theneveryoneturnedtheiratten-tion to Odee, who had spit his blueberryout, and was noodling it around on thefloor. The dog didnt seem too sure of theblueberry. Dawson could relate.See,Itoldyouhewasapickyeater, said Jodi.The Great Pyrenees have a natural-born instinct to guard and protect. Theyhave a deep devotion to their family andhome.During one of their regular visits tothe Collier Dog Park in Land OLakes tosocialize Odee, Jodi began talking withanotherdogparkregular,Dr.GregSpirakis. The more he observed Odee, the Above and left: Therapist Coleen Ritari works withmorehewasconvincedthatthedog Dawson during a feeding therapy session, as Odee,sits at-the-ready, for his duties to assist.would be a good candidate for therapydog training. Dr. Spirakis, who also hap-penstoworkatSt.JosephsChildrens Dawsons anxiety was an arduous process.Hospital,encouragedJoditopursue Sittingherewatchingthefamilyandtraining for Odee as a therapy dog. speaking with Tammy, there is a sense thatAftergoingthroughthetraining, everyone will get through this.passing the CGC testing and subsequent Hes such a good kid. All he wantsevaluation, the team is now a regular at to do is please everyone. His teachers atSt. Joes. Personally, it is very rewarding school have been wonderful and so sup-and it gave Odee a job he looks forward portive, said Tammy.toperforming. Webothenjoyitvery OdeewatchedDawsonwithcon-much. cern, and was ready to do whatever wasAt both All Childrens Hospital in St. necessary to assist. As big as Odee is, hisPetersburgandSt.JosephsChildrens interactions with all of the children heHospital in Tampa, the therapy dogs are met that day were so gentle. When Elizabeth saw Odee from across the hallway,given a stack of trading cards with their I raised Odee to be respectful. That she moved her eyes up and down, meaning, Yes, Iphotos and stats. Summers trading card is the most important quality to me, in a want to see the dog.includes that her favorite toys are squeaky human or a dog, said Jodi. Hes a realones; she enjoys walking, bird-watching powerhouse. Hell keep going on our vis-and meeting people, especially children. its. But, were limited to two hours. HeShe also enjoys Agility and loves making puts in a full day when were working. new friends. The one common trait between theOdees trading card says his hobbies dogs, Summer and Odee, is the love andinclude jeep rides, visiting the dog park, respect their humans show them. Clearly,going to the beach and pulling carts. His thereisabondbetweenthedogsandfavorite treats are French fries, beef jerky theirhandlers. Thecommontraitthatandprimeribbones.Thechildrenin KarenandJodishareistheirprofoundboth hospitals trade and collect the cards desiretomakesomeoneotherthanof all the therapy dogs. themselves feel better. Wherever they areOne of the rules for therapy dogs at in their personal lives, whatever is goingSt. Joes is that the dogs must be bathed on, we dont know. Their focus is entirely Five-year-old Jazlynn and Odee slowly inch closerwithin 48 hours prior to their visits to the on someone else who could use a little to one another.hospital. Odees white coat was spectacu- cheering up. To watch them share their Editors personal note to Dawson:larly clean. He is so soft, said Dawson. time and the love of their dogs is inspira-Discoveringwhatwastriggering tional and heartening. U Hey, buddy, Go Noles.58THE NEW BARKER www.TheNewBarker.com'