Bright and Beautiful

COEUR d'ALENE - Dot Sharp smiled Wednesday as she gazed out across the outdoor commons at Pinewood Care Center.

The 88-year-old watched nearly a dozen dogs, many off-leash, joyfully romp about the grassy area.

"I went out front to look for my grandson, and they all started coming in and came all around me," Sharp said. "I followed them, and came out here without my walker."

She didn't seem unhappy about it.

That's the usual reaction to these pooches, all certified therapy dogs who regularly share their sunny dispositions with residents at Kootenai County nursing homes, assisted living and hospice facilities, and hospitals.

The animals are all certified through Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs, a New Jersey-based nonprofit with 6,000 dogs certified nationwide.

The Kootenai County pups will be spreading joy beyond North Idaho later this year when their photo graces Bright and Beautiful's annual Christmas card.

The canines clustered at Pinewood Care Center Wednesday so the dogs could pose for the holiday shot.

June Golden, executive director of the national organization said in a phone interview from New Jersey that they choose a different group each year for the honor.

"Idaho is one of our favorite programs," Golden said.

There are now 17 dogs certified in Kootenai County, representing a variety of breeds and sizes.

Lynn Jackson, of Coeur d'Alene, showed up for the holiday photo with the smallest dog, a tiny toy poodle named B.B. Queen that was certified a year ago.

"It was something we could do together," Jackson said.

Volunteers like Jackson bring their certified pets to assigned facilities on a regular basis.

Annie Hirsch brings her Doberman, Marco, to a nursing home in Post Falls.

"The people just love him," Hirsch said. "They have to come out of their rooms, and walk to visit with him. It's good for them."

Julie Cramer, of Post Falls, visits Coeur d'Alene Life Care Center and Pinewood with her beagle, Maggie.

"We walk down the hall, and she leads me into the rooms she feels we should be visiting," Cramer said.

She said she learned it's better to let Maggie decide which residents they should drop in on.

Cramer once urged the beagle into a room the animal was resisting, and quickly discovered the resident was terrified of dogs.

"She can sense it," Cramer said.

Pinewood, a residential health care facility for eldercare and rehabilitation, teamed up about 18 months ago with Dave Neptune, a Coeur d'Alene evaluator for Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs. Neptune tests local dogs for certification at Pinewood.

"We're very grateful they allow us to use their facility for this," Neptune said.

Pinewood activities director Cynthia Shirley said the pooches "bring life," to the care center.

"They're non-judgmental. They don't care who they're loving on," she said.

Bill Falstreaux, 73, is president of the resident council at Pinewood Care Center.

The residents all look forward to the dogs' visits, Falstreaux said, even those who aren't always aware of their surroundings.

"They don't know the days, but they love the dogs," he said.

Falstreaux enjoys the pooches himself, "It's a welcome break to a mundane life."

The group is always looking for more owners to sign their pets up for certification.

To be eligible to become a pet therapist, a dog needs to have had basic obedience training, be healthy, up-to-date on its vaccinations, be good around people and other animals, be well-groomed and odor-free.

The test costs $15 and the certification fee is $35 per year.

With paid certification comes $2 million in coverage under Bright and Beautiful Dogs' liability insurance policy.

The evaluation, or test, can be found on the Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dog website at: www.golden- dogs .org.

To schedule an evaluation, or a visit from one of the dogs, contact Cynthia Shirley at 664-8128.