I was sitting at the ramp today and noticed this fellow walking a Great Dane. His arm was outstretched with the leash and I asked, “Is he walking you or are you walking him?” He showed me that he was holding onto the leash with only one finger so he was definitely walking the dog.
Meet Benelli. He is a Blue Merle colored Great Dane. I didn’t know this breed was actually a mix between a Mastiff and Irish Wolfhound. I always thought they were a breed unto themselves. You learn something new every day.
As far as Great Dane’s go, Benelli is on the small side. He’s two and half a years old and wears a very special tag on his collar. Benelli is a therapy dog. He is welcomed into several hospitals and nursing homes in Pennsylvania and pretty much has the run of the place including Intensive Care Units.
Todd, his owner, and his wife got this gentle giant when he was just a small pup. At eight months old his people knew he was meant to be a therapy dog. The way Todd tells it, Benelli told them. Don’t take that literally, Todd wasn’t telling me the dog talks but that Benelli did in fact let them know he was special and born for this.
Todd took him to a training center, where therapy dogs are trained, to get information on the training and requirements. At this point Benelli had had no training of any kind. The training center doesn’t even begin the process until dogs are at least nine months old and Benelli was only eight months at the time. Todd knew he had one very special, smart dog and asked them to do some of the testing so that he would know what he had to work on with Benelli. They had the time so they agreed to test him. Much to everyone’s surprise, except Todd, Benelli passed the test without any formal training.
Todd told me that early on he gave hand signals to the Great Dane for sit, stay, lay and he just instinctively knew what was wanted of him. No training, he just did it.
When he turned nine months old it was back to the therapy training center for the beginning of training sessions. When completed, Benelli didn’t have to test out, he’d already passed the test after all. And so started Todd and Benelli’s trip to children’s hospitals in their region. It is not at all unusual for this Great Dane to climb into bed with these ill children so that they can pet and hug him.
Benelli’s visits are confined to just children. Todd told me of some their experiences and I have to tell you goose bumps just ran up and down my arms. There was one in particular that stands out. There was a man who was hospitalized quite awhile and waiting on a heart transplant. The man was running out of time and there was no heart forthcoming that was a match. I can’t remember this one part – they went into the room to visit or they were walking by the room and Benelli insisted on going in there, but I’m leaning towards the latter option. Either way, Benelli jumped up and put his paws on the side of the bed and sniffed all around the man’s body in the area of the heart. The very next morning the man received his new heart.
Todd relayed other stories of patients, children and adults alike, that were in much pain and when Benelli lays in bed with them they because a lot less agitated and are soon able to engage in normal conversation with no regard or indication to the pain they were in just a short time prior.
Not only has Benelli made a difference in the lives of the hospital and nursing home patients he visits, he also brought about a major change in his owner as well. By his own admission, Todd was selfish, short tempered and at times probably arrogant. All that changed when Benelli came into his life. When he realized how special this dog was and what peace and happiness he brought to those who were ill, in pain or just alone in this world, he saw things from a whole new perspective. Where once he was selfish he now gives his time, one of our most precious commodities, freely to others by spending his weekends visiting hospitals and nursing homes. He has even gone during the week when a hospital calls him and says Benelli is needed. At one time, he says, he would just as soon punch your lights out if you gave him a hard time as look at you. Not so, anymore. Benelli has taught him patience, humility and today he is a caring man.
Since Todd is called for Benelli’s services the dog now has his own calendar of events.
I’m glad I met Todd and his wife, although I never did learn her name. I’m especially glad I met Benelli and learned more about this gentle, sweet tempered canine.
I’m hoping they come to the marina again for a weekend so I can hear more stories about this wonderful dog.
While Bob and I were busy tending the marina ramp today my cousin Ronnie was also busy. He spent his morning slicing and dicing and mincing his special blend of herbs to coat the racks of ribs he was smoking today for our dinner this evening, Oh yeah, smoked ribs, corn on the cob and baked beans for dinner. Talk about finger lickin’ good! Finger lickin’ good for everyone else that is. I’ve got this thing about getting my fingers dirty when eating. The same reason I don’t like to clean crabs. Yes, I eat ribs with a fork and knife! Go ahead, laugh, I got used to that during dinner today. Whether we ate them with our fingers or with utensils,,,they were some good ribs!
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