Heartbreak inspired Miranda Rowlands to sign up Shogun for the Wishlist Therapy dog, powered by Petstock, now she couldn’t imagine life without their twice-weekly visits to patients.
When Miranda’s husband George was diagnosed with a one-in-a-million cancer he spent his dying days in the Dove Palliative Care Unit in Caloundra.
She vowed she would find a way to recognise all the doctors and nurses who went above and beyond for her husband.
“I wanted to give my thanks back to the health services that supported my husband,” Miranda said.
“Palliative care, in particular, was very supportive of us as a family during the last couple of years.”
Now, Miranda and her 10-year-old Japanese Spitz visit the Dove Palliative Care and Adem Crosby Centre once a week.
“He's a very loving and cuddly dog who enjoys being patted.
“A lot of people miss their dogs when they're in Dove Cottage, and it's a good way to distract from what's going on in their life, just having a nice pat with a very fluffy dog.”
The Wishlist Therapy Dog program has more than doubled over the past 12-months thanks to the support of our good friends at Petstock.
Miranda said the reaction of the patients makes it the most rewarding volunteer work you could ever hope to do.
“There was one woman who I went to see who was obviously at end of life, all bent over, just in a sad state, and I didn't know whether to go in, so, I asked her,” Miranda said.
“She couldn't talk, but she patted the bed, so she was telling me she wanted the dog up close.
“Shogun put his snout up to her, and I said, ‘That's him giving you a kiss’, and her face, her smile, the whole room brightened up. I will never forget that.”
If you’d like to support the Therapy Dog program you can become a Wishlist GEM (Give Each Month) – just $10 a month helps pay for a Wishlist Therapy Dog visit.
Alternatively, if you’d like to join Wishlist as a volunteer click here.
