Jack

Cindy and Jack

"Can Jack come back to see me one more time before I go home?" These words are the ones Jack and I love to hear. The many children and their families who stay at Ronald McDonald House of Central Pennsylvania, located in Hershey, are visited by therapy dogs and cats most evenings of the week. Jack and I have been lucky enough to be a part of the therapy pet program at the "House" for the last 2 years. After exploring a number of venues, Jack found his niche with the kids. On any given night he may be gently petted and loved by a teenager working to overcome an eating disorder or approached noisily by a Down's Syndrome child overwhelmed by the chance to get near to a dog. One of Jack's proudest moments was when an autistic child added 3 words to his limited vocabulary-"Good dog, Jack." Jack had a travel bottle that many of therapy teams use- the plastic bottle with the attached trough. One evening while going into RMH, I dropped the bottle in the parking lot. The trough broke, but the bottle was intact. Thus began, Jack's bottle feeding routine. The youngest patients and their siblings get a real kick out of feeding a big brown dog out of a bottle. Jack is a great "licker." I have to warn the parents and children that Jack is an impending face wash for all who get near. With that mystical sense that our animals have, Jack always seems to be able to discern the child struggling with an illness. These are the little ones who receive the most licks and lean-ins for petting. He is more than happy to receive attention from anyone present, but his best is saved for those who need him most. Families are often inspired by Jack's own little story. He was a rescue who came to us as a puppy on death's door. His lungs were infected and just taking a breath was a struggle for him for 2 months. Seeing big goofy Jack, at the age of 3, and at a weight of 65 pounds is an inspiration for some of the guests at RMH. As all of us who are a part of Keystone Pet-Enhanced Therapy Services (KPETS) know, the unconditional love shown by a dog is a lesson to us all. We are blessed to be a part of their ministry.