Mohican Joe Jill and GR’s Big Cat

Jilly and Cat

    Adopted by Gail and Tom Smith

           JILLY                                CAT

TOM AND GAIL SMITH

There she was -  actually smiling - showing those little front teeth and pink gums – as she gazed happily into Tom’s eyes. Her tail was going in circles. That did it! Tom fell in love with Jill and never looked at another dog that day. We had gone to the GPA/GO kennel to find a greyhound who would be a good candidate for the pet-assisted therapy which we had been doing for several years. And you can see from the accompanying photos that Jill is enjoying her 2^nd career. Jill is such a sweet dog. She looks right into the eyes of the children and elderly she visits. It is no wonder that she was judged to be the friendliest at the Dog and Costume Contest at Heritage of Lake Forest, an independent and assisted- living facility. (And also, the prettiest in her Miss Patriotic costume.)

We decided to take a foster a few months after we adopted Jill and that is when Cat entered the picture. He was eight years old and just wanted a real home. We had no intention of adopting him. He settled down to sleep on Gail’s side of the first night.  When we went down the pasture for our walks, he was tight against Gail’s side. Well, that did! Gail couldn’t part with him! When he was tested for pet therapy, he was a natural. He is so mellow and loving. He does that greyhound lean and wags his tail happily. Everyone is just crazy about Cat - especially the nursing staff and the doctors at FL Children’s Hospital who check to see when he and Jill are visiting.

 Jill and Cat along with their owners, Gail and Tom, visit the children on the general pediatric and the oncology floors at FL. Children’s Hospital as members of Be An Angel Therapy Dogs. They also participate in visits to Give Kids the World, the Buddy break venues at various churches, health fairs, and assisted-living facilities. Jill and Cat have also been featured on channel 35 WOFL Fox evening news and  Orange County TV.

Wherever Jill and Cat go, they attract attention which gives Gail and Tom the opportunity to talk about Greyhound adoption and pet therapy.

If you are interested in learning more about how greyhounds make the ideal therapy dog, please contact Gail and Tom at tomsmith@sprintmail.com.

The three and one-half year old boy in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit had steadfastly refused to get out of bed since his admission to the hospital.  When the nurse asked the child if he wanted to see the dog, his weary countenance slowly lifted to the door. As the nurse was disconnecting his IV tubing and vital sign sensors, his Father set his son on his feet and a Greyhound appeared. It was Cat! With gentle assistance, the boy slowly walked to pet him.  Jill came next and then Gracie, a small lab. There were tears of joy shed that day for a seriously ill little boy and the dogs who gave him happiness for just a brief moment.

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