When Dot is done with her cardiac rehab, she comes over to say goodbye to Red, it is neither simple or nor painless for her to bend over. Red has been trained in his therapy work to stay lying down when people reach over to pat or touch him, to be still and let them come to him. If they are stationary or sitting, he will walk over to them, tail wagging softly and put his head on a knee. People have asked him for his paw so many  takes he has begun to offer it, something I would prefer he not do, but which is unavoidable now.

Dot looks for Red when she sits to exercise her arms, takes a walk, sits in the “stepper” to move her arms and feet. She smiles at him, then sometimes at me. The other patients refer to Red as her “boyfriend.” Dot smiles, “yes he is,” she says. She told me she would have had her hair cut if she knew she would be photographed with Red. I brought her a smaller print of her with Red to give to her granddaughter.

These two do have a special connection, Red is as focused in his therapy work as he is herding sheep. I am deeply touched watching him with Dot and some of the other patients, but especially with her. He has altered my own recovery, encouraged me in my heart rehabilitation work, brought all of us together in a supportive community. These photos of Red and Dot have touched many people, I am grateful to be able to share them. Animals can heal us, open us up, we need them, they need us.