Little White Dog Brightens Day for Troops in Kuwait
by Natalie Cole 1stSusCmd
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - If people who are good with dogs get the title dog whisperer, then it’s safe to say that the reverse is true of Lance, an 8-year-old West Highland Terrier who is good with people. Every Saturday, the canine human whisperer shares his affection and general cuteness with troops in hospital wards on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Lance is part of the American Red Cross Kuwait Pet Visitation Program, which also operates at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
Rodriguez added that he agreed to share Lance with others because his little white dog has a lot to offer. “Lance is like a little kid inside a furry dog costume. I’ve had him for eight years and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. If he can make people happy like he does me then I thought it was great to bring him into it,” he said.
While being cute and furry is a plus, it does not qualify a dog for Red Cross pet visitation work. Lance had to pass tests to prove he had the chops for the program. First, he completed obedience training on how to be around people, children and other dogs. Also, the veterinarian clinic on Camp Arifjan tested Lance’s temperament and physical health. The behavioral training was just as much a test for Rodriguez as for Lance. “It kind of hurts you because you see them start to yank on his tail and you see them pull his ears. [They were] throwing dishes and stuff on the ground and making noises and he just didn’t even budge.”
First Lt. Chea Hale-Hernandez, Pet Visitation Program coordinator for the Army on Camp Arifjan, did research on pet therapy and the elderly for her Master’s Degree. She explained that pet therapy is administered by a licensed therapist and pet visitation is when the dog handler is not a licensed therapist. Both pet visitation and pet therapy are backed by research, according to Hale-Hernandez. “Pet visitation can provide emotional support for patients and service members in a time of loneliness,” she said. Some of the potential benefits of pet visitation include decreased heart rate and blood pressure, increased feelings of acceptance, opportunity for empathy and nurturing, and increased motivation, she explained. Giving troops the opportunity to experience such benefits “contribute[s] toward a better quality of life,” she said.
In addition to hospital trips, Lance also spends some days in the Red Cross office greeting visitors and walking around the base for impromptu meet and greets. Samantha Brissette, a Red Cross volunteer who makes rounds with Lance on Camp Arifjan, said the dog often stirs emotion in pet lovers. People see Lance and ask “I haven’t seen a dog in so long. Can I pet him?,” Brissette said.
Rodriguez agreed that part of Lance’s appeal is how he reminds troops of their pets back home. “It’s amazing. You go to a hospital and the soldiers will say ‘I haven’t seen my dog’ or ‘I miss my dog.’ They just brighten up. The ones that are upset or sad are suddenly happy and smiling. Even the injured ones, it lightens them up,” he said.
Rodriguez said one of Lance’s memorable cases happened in a one-on-one counseling session when a Soldier had a breakthrough. “He didn’t want to talk to anybody, and he talked about his dog when he was talking to people. And, they asked me to bring in Lance and … for that one soldier, he did come out of his shell and it was a break through. It really was,” said Rodriguez, adding “There [have] been others. He [Lance] has, I believe, helped out quite a few Soldiers.”
After doing the job for seven months, Lance has gotten into a routine and looks forward to his visits, according to Rodriguez. “On Friday nights when we get ready, he knows what’s happening the next morning. He knows why he’s getting his bath. He knows why he’s doing this. It’s like a switch.”
Rodriguez said the feedback he gets is what keeps him and Lance committed to the program. “They’ll [troops] come back to me and say ‘thanks for bringing him. We enjoyed having him.’ With that feedback from them, it’s just the right thing for me to do.”
When asked if he thinks Lance enjoys his work, Rodriguez smiled. “It’s him. It’s what he’s meant to do. It’s his nature,” he said. “He makes people smile just by looking at them.”