Red and I went to the Vermont Veteran’s Home in Bennington this morning, he already has admirers, friends and girlfriends all over the facility, we returned to the dementia unit and also to the regular patient care wings, people were so happy to see him, it is always profoundly affecting to see the smiles that greet Red and follow him wherever we go.

Red was more comfortable today, I am training him to approach the patients head-on, two issues that occur – everyone wants to give  him treats and people like to take his leash and direct him. I discourage that. I have mixed feelings about food during this work, you don’t really want the dog to think of the food more than the patients, which can easily happen. It is also important that I always be the one handling him, for his training and also for safety.

The staff at the home is enthusiastic and cheerful, it was quiet in the home today. Red was mildly spooked by some electronic machines going off and by some long therapy balloons that fell off of a cabinet. He will get used to them over time. It is important for me to move slowly, everyone in the home wants to see him, touch him, pet him, talk to him. It is wonderful in many ways, but I can see it is draining too, he is so intense. I think his limit is about a half an hour right now, I need to take it slowly, not push him.

But he is a natural, he has taken to it as easily as Izzy did, in some ways he is even more connected. He looks patients in the eye, holds their gaze, seems to stay with them as the patients – especially the dementia patients – sometimes need time to focus on him.

We visited a vet above in the photo, he is 92 years old. He petted Red for the longest time, we all quieted and let them speak to each other in their own way. This is challenging and gratifying work, the staff at the home is amazingly diligent and responsive. Red is getting very easy there, me too. I am grateful for him.