Daisy the dog reunited with owner, visits patients at care facility

ANN ARBOR, MI -- Patricia Blair had nightmares without her dog, but the problem was she also couldn’t remember exactly who her dog is.

Blair became a long-term care resident at the Villa at Parkridge, 28 S. Prospect St. in Ypsilanti, after suffering memory loss caused by a urinary tract infection. The memory loss was so severe, Blair said she couldn’t even remember how to write a check.

And, despite not recalling her dog’s name, Blair said she kept having nightmares about it being hurt or dead. The stress was getting in the way of her making progress in her recovery, she said.

The Villa staff checked Blair’s chart and discovered the dog’s name was Daisy and that it was placed in a shelter a few days after Blair entered the hospital in mid-May. Villa Administrator Teri Clark started calling area animal shelters looking for the dog.

“We just hoped it wouldn’t be some wolf-Rottweiler mix or something,” Clark said.

Clark found Daisy at the Humane Society of Huron Valley just in time. Daisy, a 4-year-old black Pomeranian, was scheduled to be adopted by another family the next day, but the shelter staff was so moved by Blair’s story, they allowed Clark to adopt Daisy instead, Clark said.

After being reunited with Daisy, about two weeks after entering the Villa, Blair’s nightmares stopped, she said. She hopes to leave the facility soon and is just waiting for doctors to make sure she’s ready, she said.

“I thanked God and asked him to please bless (Clark),” Blair said. “It was such a relief and I could finally concentrate on getting better. Having Daisy back gave me a purpose again.”

Daisy began going to work with Clark almost immediately. It only took a week for the dog to adjust to daily visits to the facility, Clark said. And now, when she gets ready in the morning, she said, Daisy follows her around waiting to hear her favorite words: “You want to go to work?”

When Daisy enters the Villa each day, she goes to each room on the first floor to greet the residents -- and collect treats. One of Daisy’s favorite stops is at resident Debra Sandig’s room. Sandig spends most of her day looking after Daisy, and Daisy after her, Clark said. They often spend the day cuddling, with Sandig feeding Daisy out of her hand.

“He’s so lovable,” Sandig said. “It’s the best part of the day.”

Daisy is now a registered emotional support animal and often attends physical therapy sessions. The staff has tried to bring in dogs before, but some workers or residents would be afraid of them, Clark said.

Daisy is the first small dog to visit the facility and she fits in perfectly, Clark said.

“This is an intense job, so having Daisy around is a nice break for the staff,” Clark said. “It makes it a little lighter. Some days, you’ll just hear me say, ‘Has anyone seen the dog?’”

The company that owns the facility, Illinois-based Villa Healthcare, was glad the staff found a dog that helps residents, Clark said. Not many companies would embrace the situation like they did, and the staff is grateful, she said.

At the end of each work day, Daisy spins in circles around Clark, ready to head home to rest before another day at work.

“People say they don’t understand how I can do some things, like adopt Daisy, while I think, how can you not?” Clark said. “It’s what I would want someone to do for me.”

Daisy will move in with Blair once she leaves the facility, but will return to the Villa a few times a week so the residents can see her, Blair said.

“She’s just switching to part-time work,” Blair said. “I know how much it helps everyone to have Daisy around.”

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