Having the Prime of My Life

PLEASE WELCOME

AUTHOR

GAIL SCOATES

TO

HAVING THE PRIME OF MY LIFE

As we enter retirement, we may have more time on our hands. Some bring long-time hobbies into retirement, while others seek new adventures. For those open to new possibilities, I encourage you to consider working with your dog and become a therapy dog team, a wonderful opportunity to share the love of Jesus in a volunteer capacity.

What is a therapy dog? It’s a personal pet that’s at least one year old. The dog should be well-trained, eager to please, and enjoy being around people. Ideally the dog will have some basic obedience training. It’s the evidence of a bond between the human and dog where the dog is willing to listen and be obedient to the owner. 

The human part of the team is someone who likes people and is a willing participant in offering a few moments of joy to others. Many teams work in hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice; places that need joy and hope. Other times dogs help reduce stress in situations such as schools or prisons. Therapy dogs are finding their way to help in less common places like jury duty or medical exams.

There are numerous therapy dog organizations, but I have two favorites. First is the Alliance of Therapy dogs (ATD), of which I am a member. This link will take you to that website for more information: https://www.therapydogs.com/.  The other is Canines 4 Christ, an organization that outlines their mission to share the love of Christ with those in need. Here is their website: https://k9forchrist.org/.

Visits are done as a volunteer to sites you might choose. Or, the certifying organization will provide locations to visit. Going to the same location provides expectation and anticipation of those who look forward to a visit. But when visits are unexpected and sporadic, people enjoy the surprise of a dog coming to meet with them.

Seeing the smiles, the surrender of hearts away from pain or heartbreak for just a moment, and providing an opportunity for people to reminisce about their dogs has been a joy for me for over twenty-five years. People have shown me pet photos, told me their stories, and expressed their gratitude for our presence.

Of the many memories, a favorite is from a hospice house where I was a volunteer for many years. Here we often saw the same people until they passed away. But one gentleman lived for over a year and we became very close. He eagerly looked forward to our visits and would call his daughter and tell of the special visitor who stopped to see him every week. As he neared death, his daughter requested the hospice to ask if we would sit with both of them in his final hours of life. What an amazing impact our presence made for that one man and his daughter!

Bertha with Dallas, Michele with Charli, Gail with Sadie

excerpt from book p.119 Max accepts invitation

Sadie, Michele, Connie with Zoey visit at MHC

If you don’t have a dog, consider getting one! Or use your grand-dogs, or a neighbor’s dog! It might need to start with you and the dog taking a basic obedience class to build the special bond that is needed for this work. Can you be part of a team that brings joy, smiles, and the love of Christ to those in need?

If you would like to read more stories about therapy dogs, check out the book links on Amazon below. 

Paws, Purpose, and Possibilities: How Therapy Dogs and Faith Healed my Heart https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B3RL84LM

Finding Grace: The Inspiring True Stories of Therapy Dogs Bringing Comfort, Hope, and Love to a Hurting World.

https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Grace-Inspiring-Therapy-Bringing-ebook/dp/B0BX16LVBZ

ABOUT GAIL SCOATES

Gail Scoates is a registered nurse with a master’s degree. She has published faith-inspired books with stories about dogs as well as healthcare articles. She established a hospital-based therapy dog program, trains and evaluates teams for therapy dog work, travels, and gardens. 

An award-winning author of her first book Paws, Purpose and Possibilities: How Therapy Dogs and Faith Healed My Heart,  she is a lady with a heart for God and for dogs, her books remind us how God’s creation can teach us about God’s love. Retired from a long career in nursing, she trains and evaluates teams for therapy dog work, enjoys writing, and traveling. Check her website: https://pawspurpose.net/

She has published faith-inspired books with stories about dogs as well as healthcare articles. She established a hospital-based therapy dog program, trains and evaluates teams for therapy dog work, travels, and gardens. Gail resides in Wisconsin with her husband.

ABOUT Gratitude And Reflection: Paws And Purpose For Everyday

Amid daily activities, we long to find hope, healing, and comfort. As I was looking for encouragement and some nourishment for my soul, my eyes fell upon my dog, curled up peacefully outside my office.

Looking for inspiration, I reflected on this possibility: Might I learn things about God and my relationship with him from my dog?

The Bible verses and short dog stories in this journal hope to help you consider that idea. Everyday topics invite you to ponder your faith and life journey by reflecting on memories, love, loss, and other personal points in time. As you dig deep and reflect, I pray you find a smile on your face and in your heart.

MY REVIEW

Dog lovers will especially enjoy this journal/devotional. With scripture references, the author skillfully relates the truth in the Scripture to how dogs show us the truth. In addition, she provides an opportunity for the reader to reflect and ends each passage with a significant and relatable quote. I recommend this book to all pet lovers. 

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