A Fond Farewell to Bear: Celebrating His Retirement from Therapy Visits

On one of our first visits to the hospital, shortly after we became a registered team, we visited the hospice floor. We stopped by the room where family members could take some time away from their loved one’s room, and we met a woman there. We talked for a bit, and I learned that her mother was in a room down the hall, “in transition,” meaning she was in her last hours.

The woman asked if we would visit her mother’s room, and of course, I agreed. As we entered, I saw six or seven family members gathered around their mother or grandmother, who was lying on her side with her hand near the edge of the bed. Without any prompting, Bear immediately went over to the bedside and began gently licking her hand. He stayed there, nuzzling and kissing her, while her daughter softly said, “Mom, Bear’s here giving you kisses. He loves you. We love you.”

After a few minutes, as I started to lead Bear toward the door, he pulled me back to nuzzle another person by the bed. Then another… and another… until he had made his way around the room, licking or nuzzling each grieving family member. Only then did he allow me to lead him out of the room. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room by then, including mine.

I always have a treat to give Bear after each room visit, and he got a handful after that one!

Just last week, I retired Bear from pet therapy service and compiled a video of all the pictures taken by patients and staff. He has a Facebook page where others can post their visit photos.