FEATURES
New documentary explores Leonard Cohen’s masterpiece PAGE 12
A N O N P R O FIT, IN D EP EN D EN T N E W S S O U R CE TO I N F O R M , I N S P I R E , E D U C AT E A N D CO N N E C T T H E S T. LO U I S J E W I S H CO M M U N IT Y.
S T L J E W I S H L I G H T.O R G
2 8 TA M UZ , 5 78 2
J U LY 27, 202 2
VO L . 75 N O. 15
Healing touch
Touch therapy dogs dispense love, care without judgment BY BILL MOTCHAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
On a recent afternoon in the Jewish Community Center’s Adult Day Center, the staff was overseeing a trivia game, but Oliver Samuels commanded most of the attention. He worked the room, schmoozing with each visitor, often by planting his furry head in their lap. Oliver is a touch therapy dog. He visits the J once a week to spread joy. Therapy dogs are specially trained and screened to provide therapeutic benefits for people. Oliver, a 7-year-old golden retriever, was accompanied by his human, Stephanie Samuels, who explained why she signed him up for the assignment. “We went to Duo Dogs for training when he was a puppy,” said Samuels, who is a member of Congregation Shaare Emeth. “He was certified when he was 3, and we started four years ago. A friend of mine had been doing it, and she really liked it. I got really motivated because I’m always looking for something to volunteer for, and I’ve done lots of work at the J. In fact, I chaired the Adult Day Services committee for four years. “I think what’s been the most rewarding to me is the one-on-one. When you go into a hospital or when you come here at the J and you talk to the people individually, they give me back as much as Oliver gives them.” In addition to his weekly visit to the J, Oliver visits the Missouri Baptist Hospital Cancer Infusion Center on Fridays. “It’s bone density infusions and other kinds of infusions,” Samuels said. “It’s a big room, and there are cubicles with curtains you can pull. I basically go around to
Stephanie Samuels with therapy dog Oliver.
At right, Maxine Mirowitz and therapy dog Moxie spend time with students at Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School. e a c h cubicle and ask the person if they’d like a visit from Oliver. And usually they say yes.”
Paws for reading
At right, therapy dog Oliver gets some love during a visit to the Jewish Community Center’s Adult Day Center.
At Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School, two fourALL PHOTOS: BILL MOTCHAN legged visitors checked in at the front desk in the middle of the school day. Bexley, a 10-year-old Australian shepherd, and Moxie, a 2-year-old border collie, are therapy dogs. Their human companion is Maxine Mirowitz, a 2018 Jewish Light Unsung Hero. Like Oliver, when the Mirowitz dogs don their Duo Dog vests, they are ready to work. They visited Mirowitz school for the Paws for Reading kindergarten story time. Maxine Mirowitz was the reader. The dogs took turns sitting with the kindergarten class — and being petted — while learning about the many important roles dogs play, from rescue to crisis response to support for people with disabilities. The kids listened intently, asking questions about dogs, about Bexley and Moxie and their habits. They were so focused on the special visitors, few seemed to notice my camera documenting the class. He’s been a “hospital helper” “My dogs are very calm and relaxed,” spreading his good vibes to Mirowitz said. “They make you feel at ease. children at Mercy Hospital. Dogs don’t judge you, they just are there to Recently, he took on a new role listen. And some of the little kids were at the hospital, offering therapy just pouring out their hearts about how to the harried doctors and nurses much they missed their dogs. I think in their break room. there’s so many levels to healing.” “We go to the ICU unit not to be Maxine Mirowitz was one of the with the patients, but with the staff, first Duo Dog volunteers when “Mirowitz said. “We go at 8 p.m. because she attended therapy dog trainthat’s when they needed help. It’s an ing. Her dog at the time was not intense time. There’s an instant love. an ideal fit. Not every dog has Everyone seems at ease and comfortable the personality and temperaand relaxed and calm. And that’s what ment to not be rattled by our job is. Basically, it’s just to help them chaos around it, like a kinderrelax and take off some of their worries garten class or medical equipbecause they have high stress jobs.” ment in a hospital setting. Bexley and Moxie are both rescue dogs. Several badges dangle from Their calm demeanor makes both perfect Bexley’s vest. One is a Mercy for their volunteer assignments. Medical Center volunteer ID. “Any dog with a sweet temperament can
do it, but some dogs, like mine, just thrive,” Mirowitz said. “This is what they were built for. I think some dogs are just innately given this ability to love that interaction of touch. And if your dog is even close to that category, any dog breed can enjoy it. The core foundation is a dog who is at ease and with their handler and also with strangers.”
Elevating spirits A touch therapy dog generally visits settings such as schools, senior centers, hospitals and skilled-nursing facilities. Their primary job is to brighten the day of everyone they encounter. Some have specific See HEALING TOUCH on page 14
