It's time for Tuesdays' Show & Tail' over at Angela's West Virginia Treasures! If you have a cute story and picture of a pet, or any furry (or non-furry) friend, you are welcome to join in! Check her blog for the rules, post away - and thanks, Angela, for being our host!
Last week, one of my readers happened to mention something she noticed - it was so SHOCKING, but, so very TRUE - - - and it is the simple fact that Mr. Wonderful is rarely thrilled with any of the creatures that magically come to live with us here in the woods! He never seems to like them - at FIRST, anyways, but later they kind of grow on him - sort of like lint on a belly button!
My miniature horse, Bojangles, was no acceptation! This photo was taken in 2005 (Mr. Wonderful is not really beating that little guy!) not long after I got Mr. Jangles. I worked in Long Term Care as an activity assistant, at the time, and Mr. Jangles was just PERFECT for pet therapy. I found that out by accident, when conjuring up a prank to play on Mr. Wonderful.One day, while he was at work, I took some photos of Mr. Jangles watching TV and checking out the contents of the refrigerator...and sent them to Mr. Wonderful via email! He was NOT AMUSED! However, Bojangles was so calm and well behaved while being posed inside our house for various photos; it was then that I decided to take him to the nursing home for visits!
He was an instant hit, and the patients asked for Bojangles to return many more times after that. He would ride in the elevators and go into patient's rooms. He was not afraid of wheel chairs, and continually amazed the staff with the calming effect he had on many of the agitated or restless patients in the Alzheimer Unit.
The picture above is one of my favorites - Bojangles and Jane, a few months before she passed away. She dearly loved animals, and she was the first patient Mr. Jangles visited. She had an artist create a pencil sketch of this photo- just her and Bojangles, without the medical hoses attached to her throat. In that drawing, she appeared healthy once again.
I no longer own him, but I learned a lot with his training, and enjoyed using him for an ambassador of good will during his visiting times with the nursing home residents. He is fondly remembered by many.
7 comments:
Hey Monica!
Mr. Bojangles sure was beautiful! I'm not sure that I've ever seen a blue eyed horse before.
I'll bet that was fun taking him around like that. Did he ride in your car or did you have to pull him in a trailer?
You sure do have a lot of interesting animals that you have had! Thanks for sharing them with us!
Tuesdays' Show & Tail!
Angela
I'm floored!!!!
We had pet therapy in our LTC nursing facility...but no horses....sheesh!
He was a beauty...love his eyes and size and dappled coloring. Mr. Wonderful ain't too shabby either...he hee!!!
Awwwww, what a wonderful therapy pet Bojangles was, surely one of God's "fur-coated angels"!!!!
Mr. Bojangles is a very special animal.
Hmph! Mr. Wonderful just got downgraded to Mr. Kinda Sorta Wonderful...how dare he not indulge wholeheartedly his dear wife's every whim!!!!
You're amazing, Monica.
Sorry I haven't been visiting lately had so many problems with computer. I love Mr. Bojangles, he just looks like he is so sweet and loving. I can see why the patients would love him.
Thanks for sharing.
Molly
What a gift you and Mr. Bojangles gave to those folks. You should be very proud of doing this.
A story like this also helps voice my theory that animals have a special gift of acceptance and communication that we don't even fully understand.
Lovely post...
Oh my gosh - what a sweet and wonderful story. That woman looked so happy! And he was so cute with those Valentine Hearts on.
You sure have some great stories.
What was Mr. Wonderful doing?
sandie
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