Horse Therapy Donations

Diary of a Shelter Dog - I Am Having A Bad Hair Day

Before being groomed, my hair sticks out in every direction. (Gentle Carousel photo)

After being groomed, my hair sticks out in every direction. (Gentle Carousel photo)

By Henry
Gentle Carousel trainee

I have a hair problem.

I do not have a shedding problem... my hair seems to stay attached. It just sticks out in every direction. When my family brushes my hair, it looks neat until I move my head. Then poof, everything pops straight back up.

I usually get my baths at home, but this week I went to Ava's groomer. When Ava comes home from the groomer she looks totally different. Her hair is all white and fluffy and her tail looks like cotton candy. Her face is trimmed and she always has little bows in her hair. I was excited about my trip to the groomer and had very high hopes for my new look.

When the groomer came out to meet me I sat down and looked her right in the eyes. Humans like that. She said I had very positive energy and I could tell we were going to be friends.

Ava hates having a bath, but I don't mind them. Maybe that is why Ava is so careful to stay clean and I like rolling in the dirt and stealing socks from the laundry room. I like having my back scratched when the shampoo gets lathered up. I like being told I am a good boy for not jumping out of the tub. After I am rinsed off, I like being wrapped up in a towel and hugged.

The groomer gave me a bath and trimmed my toenails. Then she took out her scissors and worked on my hair. I tried to sit as still as I could. I am glad I have been working on my sits and stays.

When the groomer was finished I smelled like flowers. I had a new bandana and my nails were trimmed. I looked really good... until I moved my head. Then poof, same old Henry.

I wanted to have a before and after photo to share this week but they are both after photos. Do they make hair gel for dogs?

Henry's Hint
Grooming pets can help ensure good health. Some dog (and cat) owners opt for professional grooming but you can have a great time with your pet during the grooming process and improve your bond at the same time. Don't forget ears and teeth! Providing good oral care can actually extend their lives by as much as three to five years.

Diary of a Shelter Dog - Working with Aladdin, Part 1

Aladdin has a really long nose and he always wants to have it in my business. (Gentle Carousel photo)

Aladdin stares at me and he likes to touch my face. (Gentle Carousel photo)

By Henry
Gentle Carousel trainee

I have started spending more time with Aladdin the therapy horse as part of my training to become a therapy dog... and I have concerns.

First of all Aladdin is huge, at least 20 inches tall. That wouldn't normally be a problem. Pudge the Pit Bull is even bigger than Aladdin and I love him. The difference is, Aladdin is huge and he constantly invades my personal space. He wants to follow me around all of the time. If I move, he is right behind me. If I stop he wants to stand next to me. He stares at me and he likes to touch my face. I thought Ava had a long nose but Aladdin has a really long nose. He has a really long nose and he always wants to have it in my business.

I have been doing great with my sits and stays indoors, but in the barn it is almost impossible. As soon as I am asked to sit Aladdin thinks it is an invitation to spend time together...and it is not just with me. When the other horses are outside playing in the pasture Aladdin wants to stay in the barn with my family. If they sit down on the hay he tries to climb into their lap. When they are working he leans against their legs. I don't think Aladdin even knows he annoying and I don't think my family knows it either. They just give him hugs and kisses.

Does Aladdin have some good qualities? Sure. He is not interested in my treats and that is always a good thing. Aladdin eats hay. I can't explain that unusual food choice, but at least there seems to be plenty of hay in the barn. Aladdin also likes to roll and get dirty right after a bath. I can relate to that. Is it enough to build a training partnership on? We will have to wait and see.

Maybe someone needs to buy Aladdin a big doggie bed so he can go take a nap.

Henry's Hint

Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses visited more than 18,000 adults and children in 2011. Because our horses are unusually small and work indoors, many people compare them to therapy dogs, but there are big differences. Horses are flight animals and prey animals. Working with a therapy horse indoors (walking up and down stairs, riding in elevators, working around hospital equipment) is a much greater challenge than working with a dog and the training takes much longer. Just because someone has a miniature horse does not mean that they have a horse that can safely come indoors, especially around children and the elderly.

Diary of a Shelter Dog - Be My Valentine

A whole box of Valentine cards, sitting on a shelf at eye level, was too great a temptation. (Gentle Carousel photo)

I got caught. After shaking the red-and-white confetti off my whiskers, I do my best to look very sad. (Gentle Carousel photo)

By Henry
Gentle Carousel trainee

I was doing really well with my chewing problem until today. After making it through the temptations of Christmas I thought I could relax. The house was back to normal and my chewing had been under control for over a month. There have been occasional socks removed from the laundry room but they were always retrieved with little damage.

Maybe I was feeling a little too confident, like I had conquered the habit...until someone left a box of Valentine cards on the lowest shelf of the bookcase. Henry eye level.

In my defense, I wasn't around for Valentine's Day last year so it is all new to me. In my house most holidays mean our therapy horses have new costumes. They had been going out to visit children with heart covered jackets, big red bows and lots of pink sparkles. I should have known something was up.

Still, everything looked like it was in place and then I saw the box of cards. They even had a faint, sweet smell. Was it because I was bored? I am due for a new toy. Was it because I was feeling tired? It was almost nap time. Was it because I was under too much stress? When I take toys from Ava her bark is so shrill she sounds like someone is stepping on her toes. I find that a little stressful.

I will never really know what caused my relapse. I only know that when my family walked into the room and saw little confetti-like pieces of pink and red cardstock paper that had once been words of love, I was the only suspect. The paper stuck in my whiskers didn't help.

So have a Happy Valentine's Day my dear readers. Tell people that you love them and give someone a hug... it is much better than a greeting card.

Diary of a Shelter Dog - Working with Aladdin: Part 2

When we are dressed up like Fonzie, we need to sit still and look cool. Aladdin never sits and nuzzling me is not cool. (Gentle Carousel photo)

Peanut might be able to teach Aladdin about being cool – but maybe not when she is wearing a poodle skirt. Don't they make terrier skirts? (Gentle Carousel photo)

By Henry
Gentle Carousel trainee

I have continued working with my new therapy horse partner, Aladdin. Today we took photos for a '50s Sock Hop fundraiser to help fight cancer.

I don't want to be critical of Aladdin, but there are many things that seem difficult for him to do. Behaving at a photo shoot is one of them.

Aladdin likes to get really close to the camera. While I am doing my very best to "sit and stay," he keeps moving forward to see if someone will give him a hug and kiss. Doesn't he know that you get a hug and kiss when you stay in the right place?

Sometimes Aladdin turns his head and tries to play with me right in the middle of a photo. Sitting and staying is very tough work. I really have to focus and it is much harder when Aladdin tries to break my concentration. I keep thinking ... there is a treat waiting for me, there is a treat waiting for me! Aladdin can only take photos for a few minutes. I can sit and take photos for over five minutes! He has a lot to learn from me.

There are many things Aladdin needs to work on. Like climbing stairs. I can run up and down stairs very quickly. Aladdin always needs someone with him when he climbs stairs and he takes just one step at a time. I keep running up and down to show him how it is done, but it doesn't seem to help him. I don't think he is paying attention.

As we have worked together there is something else I have noticed. Aladdin never sits. I started learning to sit when I was just a puppy. Aladdin is two years old and I have never seen him sit. He likes to run and kick his back feet into the air. Sometimes he lays down and he can roll. He seems to stand a lot, even when he is sleeping. That is just strange. But no sitting at all.

How can you be a therapy horse if you don't know how to sit? I am not sure if my new partner is going to work out, but I will let you know how it is going.

Henry's Hint

Horses have a blind spot right in front of their face. You should never approach a horse directly from the front because they cannot see you until you are right next to their face. That is why horses will raise or turn their head if you approach them that way.

Horses also cannot see the ground near their front feet and they cannot see their own knees and chest. Horses have a blind spot directly behind them as well. Due to many blind spots, horses have to raise and lower their heads in order to see objects in focus. This explains why many horses will raise their head and look like they are going to spook when a person walks up to them directly in front and reaches to pet their forehead – most likely they are just trying to focus better on what they cannot see clearly.

Diary of a Shelter Dog - Road Trip and Shopping

If I chew on my new toy that says 'good dog,' it reminds me not to chew on shoes. (Gentle Carousel photo)

This is my favorite store, The Grateful Hound, in Savannah, Georgia. (Gentle Carousel photo)

By Henry
Gentle Carousel trainee

I just returned from a visit to a very pet friendly city... Savannah, Georgia.

When my family travels I usually go to camp. I love camp... a shout out to my camping buddies Lily, Chomper and Oscar Wilde... but I also like being with my family.

Now that I am becoming a well-behaved dog and can walk on a leash without pulling or rolling, there are new places I can go.

I saw many dogs walking with their families in Savannah especially in the big shady squares. Troup Square is also called “Dog Bone Square” because it has a fancy fountain just for dogs. I like that. There were also restaurants with outdoor tables so I could have lunch with my family and many stores that were happy to let me inside. Some had treats for good dogs so I had a lot of those. There were even bowls of water put out on the sidewalk by store owners. Very thoughtful!

My favorite store was The Grateful Hound. They had treats, water and dog toys. My family bought me a toy that said GOOD DOG to remind me not to chew on shoes and I met some new bulldog friends. There were a lot of bulldogs in Savannah! I wanted to stay at The Grateful Hound for a long time, but my family had plans to visit Fort Pulaski National Monument and Old Fort Jackson and I was included.

I also walked down River Street by the water and visited an art gallery and a book store. No chewing allowed in art galleries... very important to remember.

By the time the day was over I was so tired I fell asleep in my doggie bed without even chewing on my new toy. I like traveling with my family.

Now that I am back home I still want to be included, so I am wondering what local places welcome pets. Can you help me out my readers?

Henry's Hint

We need your hints. Do you know of great pet friendly places in our area like stores, outdoor restaurants, parks or activities? Let Henry know so he can share them with all of his pet loving friends.

Diary of a Shelter Dog - Time To Be Serious

I get very serious when I remember being one of hundreds of pets taken to a shelter to live in a cage – with a slim chance of being rescued by a new family. (Gentle Carousel photo)

My life is wonderful! I am very lucky to have a new family that I can love. (Gentle Carousel photo)

By Henry
Gentle Carousel trainee

Spring is in the air. Flowers are starting to bloom in my yard and the grass is turning green. It is warm in the morning when I have my first walk and chase my tennis ball. I am a happy dog and life is good with my new family.

Like all dogs, I like to look forward and not back... but my life was not always this good.

Last spring I was one of the hundreds of unwanted puppies and kittens born in our county each year. Spring means great weather and new adventures but it also means too many baby animals without good homes.

All puppies and kittens love their families and I loved my first family with all of my heart. I lived with my brother back then. We wagged our tails for them and we were always ready to play. Like all puppies we were really cute...but I was the cutest!

Then one day, when I was five months old, my family put me and my brother in a car. We were happy and excited and we trusted our family. They drove us to an animal shelter that was already overwhelmed with puppies and kittens and put us in an outside cage, all alone. Then they drove away and we never saw them again.

Maybe it was because we were not little anymore. Maybe we did something that made them mad. Maybe it was because we were so covered with fleas that we were sick. All I know is that we were afraid and just wanted to go back home.

My brother and I were very lucky, because we were selected to go to an adoption event where we found new families. Most puppies and kittens never find a new home.

I wonder if my first family ever sees me in my column. If you read this first family, I want you to know that I am doing well and I still love you... because dogs are forgiving that way.

Henry's Hint

There are many low-cost or no-cost clinics that spay and neuter dogs and cats. Call your local animal shelter and ask for locations and help. Do not let your family pet bring more unwanted pets into the world.

If you already have puppies or kittens that you do not want, make every effort to find new homes for them yourself. Dropping animals off at an overcrowded shelter where they may never find a home is the worst way to deal with pet overpopulation.

Diary of a Shelter Dog - I have a new brother! Part 1

I have a new brother and we recognized each other immediately because we look so much alike. (Gentle Carousel photo)

Walter and I go everywhere together and I try to show him what not to chew. (Gentle Carousel photo)

By Henry
Gentle Carousel trainee

When I was younger I had a brother. We would run and jump and play with each other every day. When our first family gave us to an animal shelter, my brother and I were separated forever.

I have tried to jump and play with Ava, but she is not interested. When I pull on her tail she just gets mad at me. She doesn't like to chase tennis balls or play tug of war or wrestle.

When my new family travels sometimes I go to doggie camp. I love doggie camp because I can play with my friends. I can hardly wait to spend time with Oscar Wilde and Chopper. I run with them until I am exhausted and always get a good report that "I play well with others". When I come home from camp I sleep all day because I am so tired.

Today, after living with my new family for almost five months, they gave me a big surprise. My family gave me my own new brother. His name is Walter.

When Walter and I met I knew we were going to be brothers because we looked so much alike. We are almost twins... except for my hair that sticks up in every direction.

We walked up to each other and we both knew it was time to play! I chased Walter and Walter chased me. We wrestled and made lots of noise. I couldn't pull Walter's tail because he doesn't have a tail, but we played tug of war and jumped until we almost knocked over the basket on the fireplace.

Not only do we look just alike, but we like the same things. I like snacks and Walter likes snacks. I like tennis balls and Walter likes tennis balls. He can put an entire tennis ball in his mouth! I like to wrestle with rough-and-tumble frenzy and so does Walter.

I am working on not chewing shoes and Walter is trying not to chew everything else. I have only known my new brother for a few hours, but I like him a lot. Ava doesn't like Walter at all, so he must be perfect.

I am a happy boy!

Henry's Hint

Adding any dog or cat is potentially a life-changing decision for the humans and any pets already in a home. Be sure to take your time. Don’t do it on impulse.

If adopting a second dog from a shelter, ask to bring your first dog to meet his potential new housemate before finalizing the adoption. In some ways we have bred dogs to be perpetual puppies. When in the company of other dogs, their natural inclination is to take part in playful games of chase or wrestling similar to what we see in preschool children.

Life in a good home with the right other dog can be nice for both dogs and they can form a strong bond. Match your second dog's energy level with your first dog as closely as possible. Be sure that both your first and second dogs are spayed or neutered.

Diary of a Shelter Dog - I have a new brother! Part 2

Walter has this blue fuzzy bone and we both like to play with it. (Gentle Carousel photo)

This is my toy and I am not comfortable sharing it. (Gentle Carousel photo)

By Henry
Gentle Carousel trainee

My new brother and I have had a week together and it is going pretty well.

Not only do we look alike... we like the same things. When Walter arrived, he brought his favorite toys with him so he would feel at home.

Walter has great toys. He has a blue fuzzy bone, a plastic ball and a toy duck head with a missing body. I like playing with Walter's toys, but sometimes Walter and I want to play with them at the same time. There can only be one answer to this problem. I must grab the toy duck head and run as fast as I can.

One day when I was running with toy duck head I got so excited that I jumped right up onto the sofa for the very first time... just like Baxter the Cat. Walter was chasing me and it happened before I even knew it. It was like flying. Having a brother sure brings out the best in you!

Walter likes my toys too, especially my squeaky tennis balls. At first I did not feel comfortable sharing my tennis balls. I collected them all and put them in my bed. Then I sat on them, along with my toy chew bone and teddy bear. My family saw that I was having trouble sharing, so they bought even more tennis balls. Now my house looks like a tennis court! There were too many to keep in my bed so Walter has tennis balls to play with.

Sure, there have been adjustments, but I am glad Walter is in my family. What is the best thing about having a brother? Before Walter arrived, if my family found something chewed up I was the only suspect. Now there is reasonable doubt. Except this morning when someone chewed Walter's brand new leather collar... and he was still wearing it.

Henry's Hint

Be careful when you choose toys for your pets. Choose toys to fit your pet’s size and avoid those he can work to the back of his mouth. Avoid balls with single air holes, which can create a deadly suction trap, heavily dyed toys, toys treated with fire retardants or stain guard and soft plastics. Some toys have parts that can come off.

A very popular cat toy on the market is a fake, furry mouse. Cats and kittens love them, but they can be dangerous. The mice have little plastic eyes and noses that can be pulled off and choked on. Remove any glued on pieces before you let your pet play. Another popular, but potentially dangerous cat toy, is string or yarn or thread. Cats have tongues covered with sharp, rearward-facing barbs that can make it difficult to spit out the string. If the string gets stuck in your cat's mouth, she will just keep swallowing. This can cause internal blockage and severe injuries to your cat's intestinal tract.

Select toys that match your pets play style and keep a variety of toy types on hand. Rotate toys to spark your pet’s interest and supervise play. Don't use toys as a substitute for interaction.

Diary of a Shelter Dog - An Unfortunate Event

That surprised look from my family tells me that tearing up tissues is not a good idea. (Gentle Carousel photo)

By Henry
Gentle Carousel trainee

It has been a tough week. I am not sure what happened, but I had trouble following the rules.

My family went shopping at the supermarket and brought home a big box of tissues. They put it on the bathtub, right at my eye level... if I stand on my hind legs and stretch.

I don't know what came over me. Maybe it was the three plush layers and extraordinary softness. Maybe it was the fresh summer scent. Maybe it was the excitement of having my new brother Walter. I just grabbed the box , ran to my bed and ripped it open. By the time my family discovered this, the tissues and box were all over the floor, in my bed and over in Ava's bed. I couldn't even blame Walter, because the tissues were still floating in the air when my family found me.

I have plenty of toys to play with and now that Walter is my brother I have his toys too. Tennis balls, plush teddy bear, plastic toy bones, squeaky toys and my favorite Kong toy that smells like chicken. None of them seemed as exciting at that moment as the box of tissues.

Am I disappointed in myself? Sure. My training to become therapy dog has been going really well. I am walking on a loose leash. I sit and stay. I lie down when I am told. I am spending time with our therapy horses and I don't get too excited when I am around new people. I am even learning to eat only from my own food bowl. That is hard!

I am a smart boy, so why did I break the rules? I will never know. I promise my readers that next week I will do much better... as long as no one needs to sneeze.

Henry's Hint

New discoveries are showing us that dogs are smarter than we ever thought, with a brain that resembles our own in many ways. It seems that science is finally catching up to what dog owners have known all along. There really is more going on behind those big eyes than just sleep, eat, and play.

Dogs truly are intelligent animals... in many cases as smart as a two year old child. They use logic, feel emotions and form strong bonds with humans and other animals.

Researchers also have found that some cats do as well with certain types of conceptual learning as monkeys. And, aside from monkeys and other primates, cats are among the best at learning by observing the successes and failures of other animals attempting to complete a task.

Diary of a Shelter Dog - A Baby Horse

The newest Gentle Carousel therapy horse trainee, Maestro, meets Walter, who waits for a chance to lick his nose. (Gentle Carousel photo)

Maestro, who was born last week at the Gentle Carousel farm, goes for a romp in the pasture. (Gentle Carousel photo)

By Henry
Gentle Carousel trainee

A baby horse was born at our farm this week. My family is very excited. His name is Distant Thunder Top Hat N Tails but they call him Maestro.

If I was a baby horse I wonder what my long name would be? King of the Wind Blown Hair? The Black Stallion Returns For A Snack?

Maestro is in training to become a therapy horse. It will take him about two years to learn all of the basic skills he will need to know. That may seem like a long time, but he doesn't learn very fast. He can't even do things I knew as a puppy... how to walk up and down stairs, how to walk on different floor surfaces. Sit and stay is going to take him forever.

I am not sure what my family is so excited about. From what I can tell Maestro doesn't do much. He doesn't play with toys. He doesn't eat grass. Most of the time he stays in the barn with his mother or follows her around in the pasture. Sometimes he goes for a wild run, but it only lasts for a few minutes and then he needs a nap.

Yesterday Maestro came inside our house. Everyone said he was cute... not really cute like me, just basic cute. Baxter came over and rubbed his face. Walter jumped up and down and licked his nose, but Walter licks anything. I sat next to Maestro for a photo but didn't feel the need to make a big deal about his visit. After all, when they picked Maestro up he just fell asleep in their lap.

Nothing exciting going on here.

I wish all of my readers a very Happy Easter and Passover!

Henry's Hint

Some of you may have given your children real bunnies for Easter. Rabbits are intelligent, friendly, quiet house pets and can be great pets for children, but they need special care. Find out the best way to care for your bunny at the House Rabbit Society website. Rabbit care requires quite a bit of work and parents need to help with the responsibility. Too many "Easter Bunnies" make their way to animal shelters or do not survive. Don't let that happen to your new friend.

Diary of a Shelter Dog - Mozart the Therapy Horse

Mozart greets me after his full day of working as a therapy horse. (Gentle Carousel photo)

Mozart responds to a special request from a young man, being treated in a hospital, who read about him on Facebook and asked if they could meet. (Gentle Carousel photo)

By Henry
Gentle Carousel trainee

I want my readers to know that I am back on track! After the week of unfortunate events, my chewing habit seems to be under control again. I am having fun with my new brother Walter without breaking anything and I am still training to become a therapy dog.

I have even found one of our therapy horses that I have some things in common with.

Mozart the therapy horse is pretty young like me and we both have wild hair that pops straight up after it is brushed. We like to run really fast outside, but know we should be calm indoors. Mozart knows he should always use the bathroom outside and so do I. We both like a lot of attention and Mozart seems to find me very interesting. He likes to follow me around and watch me play... so you can tell he is very smart.

This week, while I was having a snack and taking my nap, Mozart went out for therapy visits. I heard my family say he was a very good boy. Mozart and a therapy horse named Cloudburst went to an assisted living program and walked from room to room saying hello to people. They wore cowboy outfits and had iPods playing western music from the 1940s and '50s. Many people could not leave their beds, so Mozart went over and put his head on their blankets so they could touch him.

One woman they came to visit watches cowboy movies all day long on her television. While she was watching a scene with running horses, the real horses walked right up to her bed with cowboy hats and western music. She was so surprised and happy. She gave the horses big hugs. I guess Titanic wasn't the only movie in 3-D this week!

After they left the assisted living program Mozart and Cloudburst made one more stop to visit a young man being treated at a hospital. He knew Mozart from reading about him on Facebook and asked if they could meet. When the horses arrived Mozart went over to him and put his head on the young man's lap. Everyone was so surprised because Mozart did not want to move. After a few minutes he just closed his eyes, ignoring everything else going on around them. Mozart and his new friend spent over a half hour together.

When it was time for the young man to leave, a stuffed horse was placed on his lap to remember the visit and he had a Gentle Carousel baseball cap on his head. Even when the stuffed horse was placed on his lap Mozart refused to move his head. They had made a very special connection.

I saw Mozart when he came home from his visits. He went for a run with his horse friends and my family gave him some treats.

I think I will be a very good therapy dog when I am finished with my training. I like treats and I like getting hugs too. Mozart and I have a lot in common.

Henry's Hint

A wide range of health professionals and practitioners now recognize what everyday pet owners have known for years...that pets can be good for your health and well-being. Companion animals are being introduced into the therapeutic regimens of nursing homes, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, behavioral health programs and much more. Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses is an all volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity. The tiny therapy horses visited over 18,000 adults and children in 2011.

Diary of a Shelter Dog - Fan Mail

This is a photo from Lucy, the Guinness world record holder for the World's Smallest Working Dog. Lucy was a rescue dog and now is a therapy dog. She sent a letter and the photo to encourage me to work hard. (Photo by Sally Leone Montufar)

There is nothing like having your own easy chair and this is my favorite place to sit when they bring my fan mail. (Gentle Carousel photo)

By Henry
Gentle Carousel trainee

I don't want to sound like fame is going to my head but I have started getting Fan Mail. Three letters at the post office this week. I am getting e-mails too. I even have my own e-mail address: diaryofashelterdog@gmail.com

Ava and Walter... no mail for them yet.

One of my favorite messages this week came from Lucy. Lucy is a purebred Yorkie who is the size of a kitten. She is currently the Guinness world record holder for the World's Smallest Working Dog.

Not long ago Lucy was like me, homeless and on her way to a shelter. There are many purebred dogs and cats who don't have a home. When she was adopted, the veterinarians said she would not have lived much longer. Now Lucy is totally healthy and works as a therapy dog in hospitals and schools. She also supports rescue and therapy dog programs. She was great dog waiting for the right family to bring out the best in her.

Lucy says she will be watching my progress. That makes me want to work even harder on my chewing problem and to stop taking toys away from Walter. Lucy says if she can be a therapy dog so can I.

I like Fan Mail.

This week I also received a book in the mail and a fan wrote me a poem.

Henry was a shelter dog
but now he has a home.

His hair sticks up all over his head
even when he uses a comb.

Henry has a chewing habit
he tries hard to stop every day.

His friends Ava, Baxter and Walter
will help him find his way.

Henry likes to play with toys
and he loves to have a snack.

He wants to be a therapy dog
and we think he is on the right track.

Thank you to all of my readers for your messages of encouragement. They are almost as good as a snack! I won't let you down.

Henry's Hint

Rescuing a purebred lets you combine your love of a particular breed with the knowledge that you’re helping a needy dog or cat. Most breeds have rescue groups devoted to sheltering, fostering and placing dogs and cats of that particular breed. There are many special four legged friends waiting to make a difference in someone's life.

Diary of a Shelter Dog - Mozart The Therapy Horse, Part 2

Mozart brings joy to Joseph, a boy who had just left a hospital where he was participating in a painful clinical trial to find a cure for Pompe disease. (Gentle Carousel photo)

Mozart, the miniature therapy horse, is eager get to work, making people happy by helping them forget about being ill or in pain. (Gentle Carousel photo)

By Henry
Gentle Carousel trainee

Two weeks ago I wrote about Mozart, the therapy horse, and a visit he made to a young man in the hospital. Now there is more to the story about my friend Mozart and the special connection he made that day.

Miniature therapy horses Mozart and Cloudburst went to visit a young man named Joseph who has Pompe disease and was in the hospital, participating in a painful clinical trial.

The trial could one day help young children. Joseph had dreamed of meeting a real horse, but had never seen one in person before that day.

When Mozart saw Joseph, he walked over on his own and gently put his head in the young man's lap. They stayed there together and after a few minutes Mozart just closed his eyes, ignoring everything going on around them. He refused to move away from Joseph, something he had never done before. Then Mozart walked along with him, next to the wheelchair. He stayed with his head resting in Joseph's lap for more than a half hour, until it was time for the young man to return to his room.

Several days ago Joseph wrote about Mozart in a letter that was shared on Facebook, with photos of their time together... the photos first shared here with my readers.

People from around the world were inspired by the brave young man and the special horse. They began sending messages to Joseph and Mozart. By the next morning, thousands of people had heard and responded, from North Pole, Alaska to Texas, California to Maine, South Africa, Bulgaria, Ireland, Sweden, Argentina, Australia, India, France, Finland, Germany, Canada, England, Thailand, the Philippines, Egypt, Nairobi, Malaysia, Puerto Rico, Indonesia, New Zealand, Spain, Brazil, Uruguay, French West Indies, Greece, Kenya, Italy and more. The messages of encouragement continue to arrive.

This is Joseph's letter:

My name is Joseph W____ and I have Pompe disease.

Pompe disease is a neuro-muscular disease that is a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy. Because my body is missing a certain enzyme (alpha-glucosidase), glycogen builds up around my muscles causing them to weaken. I am in a wheelchair, have a feeding tube, and use a ventilator.

I have bi-weekly infusions of a drug called Lumizyme that helps halt the progression of the disease. Recently, at the University of Florida, I participated in a clinical trial where they injected a gene replacement into my diaphragm, hoping to regenerate the muscles. This is still an ongoing trial. Hopefully, from the data they receive, Pompe disease will be controlled with a single shot at birth. This is a long time away though.

I have always loved animals. Ever since I have seen the movie Seabiscuit, I have wanted to see a real horse. A friend of mine told me about Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses. I visited the website and looked at it on Facebook. I fell in love with a horse named Mozart in the pictures. Since I am in a clinical trial, I had to travel to Florida, which is where Gentle Carousel is located. My mom talked to them and agreed that we could meet one afternoon while I was there.

The first day I was in Gainesville was a rough day. There were lots of tests; a MRI, physical therapy evals, blood, etc. Also, I was really nervous about the next day of testing.

After testing was done, my family and I went to see Mozart and Cloudburst. They were both beautiful horses! As soon as I saw them I forgot all about the tests and how rough the day had been. All I knew was that I wanted to pet both of them.

Amazingly, Mozart seemed to love me right away. He came right up to me and put his head in my lap as if to say "Don't worry Joseph, I'll be your friend".

Mozart stayed with his head in my lap as we talked with everybody and I petted him. Cloudburst put his head on Mozart's back and we stayed that way for a while. I know that animals have a special sense about people and Mozart showed me that.

I will always remember that day and the friend I made with Mozart.

Thanks to the people at Gentle Carousel for making that day possible. Mozart and I will always be friends and I hope to see him again soon!

Sometimes I forget the important job my therapy horse friends do when I am left home to take my nap and play with Walter and my toys. I will be extra nice to you today Mozart.

Henry's Hint

Sharing a little kindness with others is important. The Lake City Humane Society, in partnership with PetSmart, will be holding a Big Tent Adoption Event, Friday, May 4, from noon to 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday May 6, from noon to 5 p.m. I was adopted at the very first Big Tent Adoption Event. I was the very last dog adopted as they were starting to pack things up.

henry will stop by the Big Tent Adoption Event at 1:30 pm on Saturday, May 5th. Come by and meet Henry and take a look at the great dogs and cats that are waiting for their own family.

Henry in the press... Modern Dog Magazine!