Pets are Therapeutic

Many stroke survivors and families have discovered that pets can play an important role in recovery. The two poems in this section are about dogs. In the first, a dog who provides unconditional love is saluted. In the second is about a dog who is nearing the end of his life.

:friends:

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Paw Prints

By Jan Johnson

In life you meet lots of different people

Some are trustworthy, Some are kind and sincere

Some have no hidden agenda

While others may have different plans

I have found in my life there is one Four legged fellow

who is so special from all the rest

All he has to do is look into my eyes

and there I find it

Unconditional love, forever love and devotion

The way he tilts his head and moves his ears

to listen to every word I share with him

He looks into my eyes and can see

down to my soul

It is times like that I feel additional

Harley Paw Prints being put on my heart

These Paw Prints will last a lifetime

With each one given to me, our bond

just gets stronger and stronger

He is there when I shed tears

He is there when I share laughter with him

He is there just because he wants to be

He knows I am different from the rest

He sees me in my wheelchair and with

my walker or cane

He knows I must sit in my Lift Chair

None of this matters to him, he could care less

that I am a Brain Stem Stroke Survivor

All he cares about is the love I share with him

There is no greater love than that

Harley is my blessing from Heaven

For you see God sent him to me

Backwards is the word DOG

This is the message sent to me

He was sent from GOD for if I hadn't gone through

this journey, there would be no Harley