(E.B.W.) Critter Corner: July 10/2019

Feature:

Charlotte Sweetens Seniors’ Days

“There are 110 pounds of Charlotte, an Old English sheepdog, & mostly she uses them to let the world know she’s here.

She is vocal & excitable, given to enthusiastic greetings to visitors to the family’s west-end home & to settling expansively into the space she creates for herself between owners Anita & Ron Gottesman in their king-sized bed.

Charlotte…is a big dog with a big personality. She has 3,000 followers on Instagram as charlotte_oes.

…on Monday, she was gentle & quiet as she entered a room at the Cote-St-Luc Aquatic & Community Centre for a visit with a group of vulnerable older adults in a drop-in program. Several broke out into broad smiles as she walked slowly around the circle in which a dozen or so people were seated…She moved calmly from person to person, greeting them softly & turning so they could pet her rear.

‘Charlotte likes to be patted on the bum,’ Anita told them…

Monday was Charlotte’s second visit to the program, pffered by the Cummings Centre for seniors &, as with her first visit, she was accompanied by Anita & by Arielle Gottesman- Anita’s daughter & a social worker at Cummings.

‘When we take her to the group, she just knows what to do. IOt’s incredible,’ Arielle said. ‘With seniors, she knows that if she paws them she might scratch them so she turns her bum toward them- a submissive position.’

…How old is Charlotte? 4. Is she bathed at home? No, she won’t permit it; a groomer bathes her. When does she eat? Breakfast & dinner. She eats dog food but loves what the family eats: Favorites are salmon & cheese.

‘Any time I walk her, people stop to talk to her & tell her stories,’ Arielle said. ‘And they light up & she lights up…it’s a way for people to open up- not in a formal setting- & I see what a positive impact something so simple can have’.

…’Charlotte was so funny,’…’She was going up to people & sitting on their feet, saying ‘Hi, I am here’. They loved her.

‘We have a participant here who has a hard time connecting with people, but when it comes to Charlotte, he connects. He was very affectionate, petting her & saying what a beautiful dog she is.’

Anita brought treats so those who could gave Charlotte commands like sit & stay, then rewarded her with the treats. Such an exercise is so empowering for people who so often aren’t heard, Arielle said.

Charlotte’s visits also triggered memories as participants reminisced about good dogs & good times. Daniel Elkin remembered his dog Bianco. ‘She was a good dog.’

…Cummings program manager Erica Botner, who oversees the drop-in program, said it tries to bring ‘moments of joy’ to participants; visits from pets can help do that’…”