Therapy Dog?
by Bruce Skakle (bigkid)

Last Friday I took some quilts to the laundromat in Bucksport and while they were washing I took Ziva along the shoreline walkway the town has built. It was packed with tourists and it was HOT. I decided to get Ziva an ice cream cone and when we got back to the truck she spotted a seagull on the dock and she must have thought it was HER job to chase it off. I had her collar and leash with me but she was naked. A van from PA. pulled in beside me and this woman got her 5 year old child out of a car seat and started walking toward the dock.

I don't know who spotted who first but Ziva saw that there was a kid to play with and started running toward them. The woman was terrified and grabbed her child and picked him up. I told Ziva to stop and sit and she dropped like she had been shot. She was a good girl and stayed where she was while I explained that Ziva loves kids and wouldn't hurt a fly.

The lady told me that her son is autistic and he had NEVER been around any animals at all and he will be traumatized by any contact with the dog. I couldn't believe that ANY child would or could make it to 5 years old without playing with a dog or cat. I told the little boy, who didn't speak at all, that the dog was nice and friendly and I wouldn't let her come near him. That didn't work out at all. Ziva had gotten into her submissive mode and was crawling on her belly toward the little boy. She rolled on her back and I rubbed her belly but she really wanted to get to the child.

About that time the woman saw that he wasn't afraid but he was waving his arms at Ziva. I told her that she does a few tricks like, sit, lay down, shake hands, high five, and speak that she will do with hand signals. I had her do those and the little boy seemed excited. I don't know how I would feel at his age if I had never been around any animals but I'd probably be picking up negative vibes from the Mom, too, but he seems to want to touch Ziva.

I had her turn away from him and he touched the back of her head and pulled his hand away quickly but touched her again and was waving his arms all over the place. I told the Mom that she would speak using a hand signal and to see if the little boy could do it. The Mom started making the 'Speak' signal and Ziva quietly barked. The boy jumped but then got real excited and the Mom did it again and said, "Speak" to Ziva. She barked again and the Mom did this about 4 more times. Each time the little boy got all excited and I asked if he could sign to the dog as he had been signing to his Mom the whole time as he didn't speak a word, She showed him the speak sign and after a few tries he got Ziva to speak.

Then what happened was fantastic. The little child, who hadn't uttered a word, made the 'speak' sign by himself and Ziva barked again. And the little boy said, "SPEAK" as clear as could be. The Mom looked at me and just kept saying, "Did Zack say that?" I told her he did and then he had Ziva speak again and again he said, 'SPEAK". At this point the Mom was nearly hysterical and people were all standing around asking if the dog had bitten the child. She said 'No, but my son said the first word he has ever spoken."

She had her cell phone out and was calling her husband who was at a camp an hour away. She was trying to tell him that Zack had said "speak" but it must not have registered with him what in the world she was talking about. Finally she explained what had taken place and she told Zack to make the doggie speak. He did it again and thankfully Ziva thought this was a great game to play with him and barked again. She was holding the cell phone near Zack and the Dad could hear him when he said 'speak' again. She asked if I could wait until her husband could drive there and I said I had to run to the laundry but I would be right back. I gave her one of the postcards with Ziva's name, Facebook account and email address on it and my phone number and said I'd be back in a few minutes. I turned to get Ziva and here is Zack with his arms wrapped around her neck and hugging her for all he was worth.

The Mom said they had Zack in intensive therapy since he was 18 months old and other than grunts, screams and some other sounds he had never even tried to say any words. They had been warned that autistic children can't make an emotional contact with an animal and that he might hit or hurt the animal. So they had kept the child away from all animals. She said as soon as they get home they will be going to a shelter to look for a Golden puppy. I told her that all dogs have their own personality and I could see that a calm dog would bond with Zack, but for the first year or so, Golden puppies are pretty hyper and it might take some time. I mentioned that a trained therapy dog might be the way to go as they are usually past the puppy stage. I have never seen a person so excited as this Mom.

I told her I'd be right back but when I got back 10 minutes later she was gone and I haven't heard from her again. I hope she contacts me as I would love to know how things work out. I was hoping to see the Dad's reaction to Ziva and Zack.

I told Ziva she was a good girl and took her for the ice cream cone but she was more interested in the squirrel that was in the tree next to the ice cream shop. And to think, I almost didn't go to wash those quilts last Friday. Divine intervention, I guess. Made MY day for sure!