As charge nurse at an Assisted Living
Facility In Virginia, Jennifer Munn strives to bond with her residents and encourages patient interaction with the staff.
She also brings in some outside help to encourage a family type of environment.
"Iv'e been a nurse for eighteen years and will
have been at this particular facility for three years in November. We get to know our residents, and in turn they take an
interest in us and in our personal lives, as we work toward keeping them happy and well" Jennifer says her interest in people
guided her to being a nurse. "I want to care for people and have a career that is meaningful and can make peoples lives better
each day. And here I do get that sense of accomplishment that I've made a difference in the quality of their lives"
One personal thing residents know about
Jennifer is that she loves dogs, especially Pomeranians. They also know she breeds Poms and has successfully shown them in
competitions around the country. " I chose Pomeranians because I was enthralled by their history and the fact that they have
a captivating way about them," says Jennifer. "They may be small but they think their big, and their personality is huge.
If you ask one to sit, they look at you like they are waiting for you to give them a reason why they should. They definitely
seem to have their own agenda."
Pet therapy at Jennifer's facility naturally
derived from the residents interest in the staff's outside activities. "They like to be involved, and want to know who you
are as a person," says Jennifer. "They got to know me, then were curious about my show dogs. They'd ask how a show went, and
eventually got to know the dogs themselves. My husband and I have seven Pomeranians and we use all seven for pet therapy."
"We schedule two, two hour visits each month
and have impromptu sessions in between. Before each visit the residents want to know which dog is coming. Each dog has it's
own little individual personality and everyone has their favorite." Jennifer notes that even people who don't socialize easily
will smile and interact with others while the dogs are visiting.
Although the Munn's have bred and shown dogs
for only five years, one of their Poms was exhibited last year at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club dog show held
in New York's Madison Square Garden. " The name of our kennel is Achilles and our Westminster entry was Champion Achilles
Fit To Be Thai'd. "Thai" has won three major events on the way to his Championship and qualified for the show for his culmination
of wins under different judges."
The couple breed two or three litters per year,
and keep the ones that are of show quality. Those that are not suitable for the show ring go as pets to homes around the country,
after being spayed or neutered. "The last pet that we adopted out went to a lovely family in Utah. We enjoy
hearing news of how the pups we have placed are doing, and especially love seeing family pictures with one
of the Poms we have bred included in the photo as a valued part of their new family," says Jennifer
She emphasizes however, that you can't say enough
about the positive effects of pet therapy. "Our residents faces light up when they know one of our dogs is planning to
visit, and they want to know if their personal favorite is coming. Some residents don't have allot of family so they crave
their relationships with the dogs, and a wonderful bonding takes place. And the dogs perspective is a very important factor
in the therapy, as they don't judge people and think everyone is equally as wonderful.
