A Sad/Sweet Message

"Judy," called a nurse. "There’s someone at the nurses’ station who wants to see Reggie."

Puzzled, we return to the station. A slender young woman is pushing a wheelchair. Sitting in the chair is a petite woman with short black hair holding a tiny brown dog. This is an adorable "designer" dog, one that might peek out of Paris Hilton’s handbag. From the puppy’s little brown nose to her cropped ears (tipping over slightly) to her tiny stub of a tail, she looks like a Schnoodle. Wearing a pink Barbie "hoodie" she seems more like a bedroom decoration than a real dog. But Reggie knows she is real!

I recognize the woman in the wheelchair immediately. For the past two weeks I had visited her here in IRU. But Saturday she was dismissed from the hospital. I recall the first time I met the woman (then an IRU patient) two weeks before.

"A Giant Schnoodle," she had exclaimed. "I have two little Schnoodles at home. See their pictures." She pointed to two large framed photographs. One was a portrait of her and two tiny puppies, one of which was a miniature version of Reggie. The other photo, also a portrait, was of four small dogs, all small Schnoodles. Scattered about the room were several toy dogs, very lifelike and very "Schnoodle". The toys caught Reggie’s eye immediately and he reacted with excitement.

"He’s O.K." the patient assured me as I corrected Reggie. "He’s fine," and she moved to the edge of the bed reaching out her arms to Reggie. He moved in close. She encouraged a smooch and Reggie complied.

"Oh, I want my daughter to see him," she said, picking up her cell phone and placing a call. When we waved "Goodbye" she was still talking on the phone.

The following Wednesday a therapist alerted us, "Be sure to visit Room 264." We knocked and entered the room to find the same tiny woman waiting impatiently for our arrival.

Today she has returned, bringing her daughter and one of her Schnoodles, hoping to find Reggie and me at our usual time in IRU.

This is the tiniest Schnoodle I have ever seen. It is a Toy Poodle/Miniature Schnauzer cross.

Reggie is definitely interested in this unusual doggy. I keep a tight hold on his leash (he’s been known to pounce with glee on these tiny dogs) but he seems content to sniff and nose her gently. She, on the other hand, isn’t so sure about about this monster dog. She trembles and quivers like a leaf in a windstorm. When the daughter places her on the floor the little dog turns and takes refuge behind the daughter’s feet.

Patients, therapists, nurses and visitors gather around to watch a Giant Schnoodle and a Toy Schnoodle getting acquainted, one a dainty nervous brown female and the other a gentle black and silver giant, both Schnoodles!

The mother and daughter have more questions for me about therapy dogs, their training and registration. I refer them to Delta Society and other resources on the Internet.

The woman in the wheelchair explains.

"Kelley (her daughter) brought me in today just to see Reggie," she says. (And I am sure, to show her adorable "baby" to Reggie and me.) And she adds, " We may come back to see you again sometime."