For Lad the therapy dog, making people smile is all in a day’s work

NORTHBRIDGE — Lad, an 8-year-old golden retriever-golden Pyrenees mix, nuzzled up to the residents sitting around the activities room at St. Camillus Health Center in Whitinsville. He wagged his tail and patiently let each of the residents reach out and pet him.

Lad’s owner, Edmund C. Quigley, a retired newspaper compositor and businessman, called him to the center of the room and commanded, “Give Papa five! Get up there and dance.”

His canine companion stood up on his hind legs, offered a paw to Mr. Quigley and pranced in step with his human companion. He then rolled onto his back for a belly rub.

“He’s a beautiful dog,” resident Frances Ballou said.

Mr. Quigley and Lad, a registered therapy dog, have been visiting St. Camillus once a month for the past five years. The pair also visits Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center in the Rockdale section of town as well as centers for children with special needs and troubled youths.

Therapy dogs are specially trained to provide emotional benefits to people in nursing homes, hospitals, schools and other care settings. They are not service animals with legal rights, such as guide dogs.

Mr. Quigley and Lad received training and certification through a nonprofit group called Dogs Building Opportunities for Nurturing and Emotional Support Therapy Dogs of Massachusetts. Lad wears a “Golden Paw” pin on his blue therapy dog vest to recognize his years of service.

Therapy dogs must have an even, friendly temperament. Lad, a previously abused stray who showed up at Mr. Quigley’s daughter’s home shortly after her similar-looking dog disappeared, has proven to be a model visitor.

“When he comes here he brings unconditional love and no BS,” said Mr. Quigley, who wears a cap with the slogan “The Dogfather.”

Director of Activities Donna E. Moore said she’s noticed the therapeutic benefits of dog visitors. “We’ve had residents who didn’t speak for weeks at a time, but they reach out and respond to the dogs. It helps them to reminisce about their own dogs.

“One day I’d like to have a dog that lives here. The dog loves the attention and the residents love the attention,” she said.

As Ms. Moore spoke she pointed out that one resident across the room, reclining in a hospital bed, was reaching over to Lad and responding more than she usually does.

Therapy dog visitors, including Mr. Quigley and Lad and another pair, are highlighted on the daily activities calendar. Ms. Moore said that residents eagerly look forward to their visits.

“Lad also draws residents into the room who tend not to prefer large groups,” Ms. Moore said.

Resident Charlotte Duvernay, who celebrated her 90th birthday the day before Lad’s visit, enjoys seeing the dog.

“I see him whenever he comes,” she said. “He’s a lot of comfort for us.”

Even the most emotionally or physically troubled individuals he and Lad visit make a warm connection with the dog, Mr. Quigley said.

“I bring him to special needs kids, nursing homes and violent teens. They just melted around him,” he said.