Anyone who's heard a cat purr or seen a dog's tail wag knows that our four-legged friends have an unparalleled ability to bring us joy. For the past four years, Hand in Paw volunteers Rosemary and Fudge have been bringing that joy to those who need it most.
Keep reading to learn more about this duo and how you and your four-legged friend can touch lives by volunteering with Hand in Paw (HIP), Alabama's premier Animal-Assisted Therapy provider.
A longtime believer in animal-assisted therapy, Rosemary Greaves first learned about Hand in Paw from a close friend and coworker after moving to Birmingham in 2006.
Alabama's premier Animal-Assisted Therapy provider, Hand in Paw is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that trains qualified animals and their owners to work as a volunteer team that brings positive distraction, motivation, empathy and compassion to people in need.
Although her dogs were too old to begin the training, Rosemary knew that one day she wanted to get involved with animal-assisted therapy.
Amid the pandemic, Rosemary adopted an adorable chocolate dachshund that she named Chewie Chocolate Fudge -- Fudge, for short.
"Fudge is incredibly unique! He's not your typical Hand in Paw dog -- he's on the smaller side, but he's a bit more active than most dachshunds.
Fudge loves to be the center of attention. He'll do tricks to make people smile and laugh. He can 'play' the piano and tap my toes. Plus, he loves to make sure that everyone talks about how gorgeous his hair is."
Before becoming a Hand in Paw volunteer team, each animal and their trainer go through training to make sure they're ready.
"The biggest thing Hand in Paw is looking for is the bond between the handler and the pet.
Since the pet can't communicate verbally, the handler has to figure out their stressors, what they enjoy and then adjust accordingly."
Rosemary and Fudge passed the Hand in Paw test in 2021. Now, they volunteer upwards of eight times a month in environments like:
"I just love to watch Fudge interact with people.
At the nursing homes, the old ladies will grab at his face and pull him close, but he's perfectly still and doesn't jump.
On the flip side, I've seen him very playful with a little girl who finished proton therapy at UAB -- he was so silly with her that she giggled and giggled when she came out of treatment. Her mom was so happy because the girl had been crying before.
It's amazing to see how Fudge figures out the environment that he's in and how he needs to respond to it."
Are you and your four-legged friend ready to become Hand in Paw volunteers? Visit Hand in Paw's website to learn more and check out their Guide to Becoming a Therapy Team to get started.