Quiet Testimonies - Gulemo

Hebron residents share a special kind of Charm with those in Need
Kathy G. Hendrickson
Lucy Jolie sits with her special dogs Summer (left) and Molly (right).
The dogs are part of Allan’s Angels therapy program sponsored by the
Bolton Veterinary Hospital and the Connecticut Chapter of Bright &
Beautiful Therapy Dogs.
Let me tell you … these girls know how to “work” a room. Each time
they make an entrance, a spark is ignited. All eyes are immediately
drawn to the beauty of these girls, which is an undeniable component
of their unique charm. Each is the photo negative of the other. One
is dark, the other light. One has short-sleek hair; the other, long
wavy tresses.
No witty conversations or politically correct speeches issue from these
girls; instead there is just unadulterated charm. It is more than
enough. Their eventual sashay out the door is proof of this, as their
sudden absence leaves a void. For hours afterward, though, tiny sparks
of radiance linger in the air reminiscent of a snow globe recently shaken
which settles its diamond glitter onto the stillness of a winter scene.
The “girls” are a team of therapy dogs owned by two Hebron families.
The dogs, and their handlers, are graduates of the Allan’s Angels
therapy dog certification program which is sponsored by the Bolton
Veterinary Hospital and the Connecticut Chapter of Bright & Beautiful
Therapy Dogs. The team consists of ‘Molly’, an utterly charming
eight-year old chocolate lab and ‘Summer’, a four-year old flirtatious
golden retriever. The girls and their handlers travel from Hebron to a
healthcare facility in Manchester on the first Tuesday of each month
to visit with the residents.
Molly and her owner Lucy Jolie have been visiting this particular facility
for more than three years. It is Lucy’s unwavering devotion to the
residents of this facility that earned them their well-deserved celebrity
status. Lucy’s gregarious personality and her dedication to philanthropy
have led her to reach out to those in need not only through the therapy
dogs but also by feeding the homeless at the House of Bread and most
recently as a member of the Board of Directors of My Sister’s Place,
Inc. It was Lucy’s spirited talks that convinced the writer of this article
to join her and Molly on their monthly visits.
STONE WALLS
è
by
Tom Clark &
Dan Garrison
“Highest Quality Workmanship”
Fully Insured
Ct. Reg. #578959
Tom
860-228-1883
Dan
860-228-9433
The Hebronian June 2009 Page 22
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