Howllo Fellow Hound and Therapy Hound Lovers:

My friend Terri Ralenkotter and her basset hounds do so much good for our community. Terri is also very involved in the Basset Hound Club of America. Here is a really great article written about her good work. It is on the website called:

Therapy Pets of Greater Cincinnati

Here is the article:

Seti Ralenkotter – Therapy Dog

Terri Ralenkotter & Seti

I became interested in Pet Therapy during a visit to Children’s Hospital where I saw some Therapy Dogs and thought that Chloe would be a good candidate. I soon made arrangements for us to be evaluated and within a month or so we were visiting a nursing home and at several hospitals.

I became interested in dog agility soon after. I had the opportunity to take a class and my only goal was to teach Chloe to jump through a hoop. It became apparent Chloe was well suited for competition and today holds several advanced agility and rally titles with AKC. During this time my father began to exhibit signs of metal degeneration. It was a difficult several years and I had to stop visiting several facilities due to caring for him. Chloe was a wonderful therapy dog to my father and sat by his side for hours on end, enabling me to get work done. Even after he moved to assisted living Chloe was always the highlight on our daily visits to him. She was by his side until the end cheering him up. During my father’s stay in St. Elizabeth Hospital, Chloe showed everyone how beneficial Pet Therapy could be and soon we were visiting in all parts of the hospital.

Chloe has been the recipient of several prestigious awards. In 2002 she was inducted into the Kentucky Veterinary Association’s Animal Hall of Fame for her dedication to promoting the Human/Animal Bond. In 2004 she received an Honorable Mention in the AKC Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE) Awards in the Therapy Dog Division. She has made numerous television appearances to benefit Shriners Hospital Therapy Dog Program.

After my father’s death, I decided to add another Basset Hound to the household. Rain, who is co-owned with her breeder Mr. Eugene McDonald, is shown in agility, obedience, field trials and rally. Her gentle loving nature soon made it clear that she would enjoy Therapy Dog volunteering. Rain was evaluated and is currently visiting Shriners Hospital, St. Elizabeth Hospital and has her own “Reading With Rain” summer program for children at the Boone County Library. She loves nothing more than getting in bed with patients and being cuddled. She has an exceptionally soft coat which patients love to pet. Rain was honored in 2008 with an AKC ACE award nomination from the Basset Hound Club of America for pet therapy.

In 2007, after Chloe’s retirement we added a third Basset Hound, Seti. Seti was tested at one year of age and has already proven to be a wonderful therapy dog. He is very loving and kind with a quiet temperament. Seti is pointed in the conformation ring, has a rally title and is showing great promise for field trialing.

Basset Hounds have wonderful temperaments and their amusing droll expressions make them great candidates for therapy dogs. Patients love to stoke their long soft ears. Bassets have a stoic disposition which allows them to take all situations in stride. If they have any faults it is that they are low set which makes them a little difficult for patients to pet at times. Handlers must have a strong back to be able to lift them up and care must be taken not to let them jump off of beds or chairs. Basset hounds enjoy being in large groups of people or other dogs and are happiest when they are the center of attention.

END OF ARTICLE

Wow, what a great story Terri. The pictures are wonderful as well. Thank you for providing us with such great awareness of those we can touch with a basset hound’s love. I noticed in your story that you stated that one must have a strong back to lift hounds up to patients. That is something I do not have, but I always envisioned an industrial wagon with sides and would have a lifting mechanism that would raise up to the side of a bed. Kind of like those things you see construction men being lifted in only much smaller.

Could you imagine the Mayor and Emma being rolled down the wing of hospital in one of those? Talk about fun!

Thanks again Terri. I am going to look into joining that organization.

More inspiring stories later…Cat, Chaps and Emma

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