Everyone loves to visit with Stella. You know, a lot of the hospital patients and nursing home residents had to leave their pets behind, so this is kind of neat for them to have a visit from a little furry friend.”Paula Kretzschmar
CULLMAN – Meet Paula Kretzschmar and her fluffy companion, Stella. Together they work diligently to bring worlds of happiness and friendship to the sick and elderly residents of Cullman County. You see, Stella is a therapy dog; her job is to visit patients at Cullman Regional Medical Center and the residents of several nursing homes around town. Kretzschmar’s job is to drive Miss Stella around and assist her in whatever she needs. As you can imagine, Stella receives just as much love and affection from her patients as she gives to them.
Stella, the 9-year-old Bichon Frise, can sometimes be seen traveling the halls of the hospital in a bright pink baby stroller. Like a little princess, she wears frilly little doggie dresses that make her look more like a stuffed toy than an actual dog. How in the world did a dog like Stella ever find herself a part of the pet therapy at CRMC?
“I used to be an elementary guidance counselor,” Kretzschmar began, “and had learned a lot about therapy dogs; I had wanted to start a Reading Buddies program at Cleveland Elementary School, which is where I worked at the time. After talking to my principal we both agreed that Stella needed certification. Unfortunately, there were no testers for Therapy Dogs International anywhere around here, so I took her to Pensacola, Florida and had her tested several years ago.
“Then one day I was in my office and an email popped up that said, ‘Please contact Marti Smith at CRMC.’ So I called Marti and she said, ‘I have been trying to find someone to do a therapy dog program for two years.’ That was about three or four years ago, and we’ve been doing it ever since,” she grinned.
For those who have never heard of Therapy Dogs International, it is a volunteer organization dedicated to regulating, testing and registering therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers. Through the organization, dogs are trained for the purpose of visiting nursing homes, hospitals, other institutions and wherever else therapy dogs are needed.
“Stella and I try to come to the hospital once a month,” Kretzschmar continued. “On each floor they have a list of patients who would like a therapy dog visit. We try to spend about 10 to 15 minutes with each person. Stella is pretty even tempered and is suited for this kind of work,” she smiled and gently patted the dog on the head.
“Everyone loves to visit with Stella,” Kretzschmar added. “You know, a lot of the hospital patients and nursing home residents had to leave their pets behind, so this is kind of neat for them to have a visit from a little furry friend. Stella really enjoys it too; she knows she’s going somewhere when she gets her bath, especially when I put a little dress on her,” she chuckled.
Before the two go on their hospital visits, Stella has to have a nice bath and be tested for parasites. Once they arrive, they aren’t given free reign of the place; they have a guide with them at all times.
“There are areas in the hospital I’m not allowed to bring a dog into, like the surgery floor for example.”
Kretzschmar pauses for a moment.
“This is her brother Jack, I lost him on July 6 to diabetes,” Kretzschmar said as she held out a framed picture of a white dog that hung from a chain around her neck. “He’s actually the one who started with me doing all this. Jack was something else,” she mused.
Jack’s breeder is the one who first introduced Kretzschmar and Stella. Because of Stella’s crooked teeth, she was not able to be a show dog like her brother. The breeder knew Kretzschmar would give Stella a good home asked her to take her. It was love at first sight and the two have been inseparable ever since.
“Stella actually did obedience and agility in the past, but she’s retired from that. She’s older now and has a cataract in one of her eyes,” Kretzschmar said as she held the dog in her arms. “We also do a dog safety class for elementary students. Of course there’s no cost. It’s just a way for the AKC (American Kennel Club) and Therapy Dogs (International) to promote dog safety.”
Despite her crooked teeth, Miss Stella has become a show dog in her own right. She was born with a purpose, and that purpose is to bring happiness and love to those who need it the most.
For more information about Therapy Dogs International visit their website at http://tdi-dog.org/.
If you or someone you know needs a visit from Stella, or would like to host a dog safety class at your school, call Kretzschmar at 256-347-8598.
