Mutt Ministry puts shining light in lives of elderly
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A UMNS file photo by John Gordon Louise Greenwald and Honey were brought together by the Mutt Ministry.
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Louise
Greenwald and her Chihuahua, Honey, were brought together by the Mutt
Ministry following the death of her husband last October. The program
was started three years ago by Jubilee Shores United Methodist Church
member and veterinarian Beth Taylor, to team up animals from shelters
with elderly and disabled people who need companionship. Taylor says
studies show that having a pet lowers blood pressure and heart rates.
"We try to let them know it reminds them that God hasn't forgotten them,
that he brought them that pet." A UMNS photo by John Gordon. Photo
#06374. Accompanies UMNS story #212. 4/12/06 |
April 12, 2006
By John Gordon*
FOLEY, Ala. (UMNS) — Louise Greenwald went through many "empty and sad hours" after the death of her second husband last fall.
"He passed away in October," she says of husband Frank Foster, "and it's been quite empty."
But thanks to the Mutt Ministry at a nearby church, the 92-year-old
piano teacher now has a new companion — a tiny Chihuahua named Honey.
"This is a real blessing — company, lots of love, and I can cook for him," she says. "He's just been a shining light for me."
Members of Jubilee Shores United Methodist Church, a 500-member
congregation in Fairhope, brought together Greenwald and Honey in early
March. The Mutt Ministry was started by church member and Foley
veterinarian Beth Taylor, who wanted to team up pets from an animal
shelter with people who needed companionship.
The results can be seen in Greenwald's shining eyes and Honey's wagging tail.
"It couldn't be any more perfect," Greenwald says. "I'm good to him, and he's good to me."
Taylor started the Mutt Ministry three years ago and places an
average of 20 animals each year. After going through some changes in her
own life and joining a Bible study group at Jubilee Shores, she decided
to use her gifts for helping animals to help people as well.
"We take animals from the shelter and we spay or neuter them,
vaccinate them, de-worm them, get them healthy," she explains. "We
foster them out for a short period of time, make sure they don't have
any bad habits. And then we adopt them out to elderly, disabled,
homebound people who could not have a pet without our help."
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A UMNS file photo by John Gordon Clarabelle keeps Margaret Thompson company at the Westminster retirement community in Spanish Fort, Ala.
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Clarabelle
keeps Margaret Thompson company at the Westminster retirement community
in Spanish Fort, Ala. Thompson and the black cat were brought together
by the Mutt Ministry, a program started three years ago by Jubilee
Shores United Methodist Church member and veterinarian Beth Taylor.
Animals from shelters are teamed up with elderly and disabled people who
need companionship. Taylor says studies show that having a pet lowers
blood pressure and heart rates. "We try to let them know it reminds them
that God hasn't forgotten them, that he brought them that pet." A UMNS
photo by John Gordon. Photo #06373. Accompanies UMNS story #212. 4/12/06 |
Taylor and other church members donate bags of food to help feed the
pets. If the owners need it, Taylor even offers lifetime veterinary care
for the animals.
"A lot of (the owners) are lonely and isolated. And it gives them a reason to get up and get going in the morning," she says.
Taylor says many studies have proven the benefits of having a pet.
"Even the simple act of holding a dog or petting a dog or a cat can
lower blood pressure, can lower the heart rate, can calm someone," she
says. "We try to let them know it reminds them that God hasn't forgotten
them, that he brought them that pet."
The Mutt Ministry has also placed resident pets at several area
nursing homes. Clarabelle, a black cat, roams the hallways and visits
the rooms at the Westminster Village retirement community in Spanish
Fort, Ala.
"She keeps me company," says resident Margaret Thompson. "I get so lonesome, but when I see Clarabelle, I get happy again."
Pam Denham, a Jubilee Shores member and Mutt Ministry volunteer, says
Clarabelle offers unconditional love to the residents at the nursing
home.
"She is well taken care of," Denham says. "She has 60 residents who are her owners and who are in love with her."
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A UMNS file photo by John Gordon Veterinarian Beth Taylor examines an injured dog at her clinic. Taylor started the Mutt Ministry three years ago.
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Veterinarian
Beth Taylor examines an injured dog at her clinic. Taylor, a member of
Jubilee Shores United Methodist Church, Fairhope, Ala., started the Mutt
Ministry three years ago to team up animals from shelters with elderly
and disabled people who need companionship. Taylor says studies show
that having a pet lowers blood pressure and heart rates. "We try to let
them know it reminds them that God hasn't forgotten them, that he
brought them that pet." A UMNS photo by John Gordon. Photo #06375.
Accompanies UMNS story #212. 4/12/06
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At first, Taylor got a cool reception from nursing homes when she
offered to give them pets. "Most of them said, 'no thank you, no pets
allowed,'" she says.
Finally, several agreed to accept resident pets, and the program
began expanding. Church members also began taking their own pets for
visits.
Taylor has a busy practice, one day juggling her time between making a
farm call to deliver a calf and checking an injured dog brought to her
clinic. But she says the time she devotes to the Mutt Ministry saves
animals that might otherwise be euthanized — and gives new hope to those
who need companionship.
"They're a friend that's always there," she says. "They're not going
to turn their back on you, they're not going to find a better friend and
leave you. They're just a loyal friend that you can depend on."
The strong bond between people and their pets goes back for centuries, Taylor says.
"Animals rarely disappoint us. They're always there to love us, no
matter what," she says. "We probably should take more cues from them, as
far as forgiveness and love."
*Gordon is a freelance producer and writer based in Marshall, Texas.
News media contact: Fran Coode Walsh, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5458 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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Resources
Jubilee Shores United Methodist Church
Center on Aging and Older Adults Ministries
Theme Page: Aging
Family Ministries
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