Brother Pete was a monk at the New Skete Monastery  before coming to the Mansion, he spent more than 40 years there and helped raise the German Shepherds for which the monks are widely known. He showed me photos of the dogs he had lived with and helped raise.

If there is a common denominator among the Mission residents, it is a love of the dogs and cats they lived with for much of their lives, and their pain at having to let their animals go when the moved into their home. It would not be manageable to have animals here, I can see that quite clearly, although some elderly facilities do permit it.

Red’s presence evokes beautiful stories that tell about the power of animals in our lives, and of our need for them to heal and love and comfort us.

I hear dog and cat stories every time I go to the mansion, I also hear the worry and pain about how the animals fared after they were  separated. This is difficult stuff, and I’m thinking of putting together a video where people there can talk about the dogs and cats they lived with and left behind.

Dog and cat lovers are notorious story tellers, I hear many animal stories in the course of a year, they are a rich part of the tapestry of people’s lives. I think Red can fill some of the holes these animals left behind.