Thursday, January 8, 2009

Raw Food Diet, Day 345- The Therapist is Pooped, Part I

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Big Pupi loves his J-O-B:

On Tuesday my mom took me to have my interview with Volunteer Services at Advocate Hospital. I don't know why people make such a big deal out of interviews. They're pretty awesome! I wish I could be interviewed ALL the time, EVERY day. For those of you pups that have never been formally interviewed, it goes like this:

You exit the SuperAwesome Car and get into this wacky moving box thing called an "elevator" in the parking garage. As the box lowers, you get to place your paws and smoosh your face against the glass window that lets you watch the world as you sink down to ground level. People in the elevator coo over you and make your bum wiggle, and then people on the sidewalk speak in high voices and make you even more excited. You walk to the main entrance of the hospital where you feel about 100 pairs of human eyes staring and can hear folks saying "look at the puppy!!". More serious tail wiggles. As your person and you walk down the hallway to get to Volunteer Services, nurses and doctors appear out of thin air and give you pets and belly rubs, chin scritches and kisses on the head. When you FINALLY arrive for the interview, you are 20 minutes late thanks to all of the hoopla and excitement that happened on the way, but the interviewer couldn't care less because she is almost as excited to see you as you are the be there. Then there's a walk around the office, introductions to folks that speak in really high baby voices that make your tail wag at supersonic speeds, a couple of questions aimed at your human (your job is to lick a stuffed toy during this time), and then another 20 minute trip through hallway just to get back to the car.


At first I was a little suspicious about this interview stuff, but I have come to the conclusion that they are AMAZING. The next morning bright and early, I found myself back in the SuperAwesome Car, back in that sweet moving box with the window, and back to prancing proudly through the hospital halls. I wound up in the Security Office with my person requesting that I be Have and Sit Like Good Boy so that I could get my picture taken for this:
Coolness! I'm official! My mom wore a matching one with her photo on it and this one was clipped to my collar. Shortly after my mug shot mom and I were back outside where I saw three of my canine buddies that belong to my therapy class instructors. It was a festival of bum sniffing! We swirled and smelled around each other for a few minutes, then it was time to be Have and Heel Like Good Boy back through the hospital. I tried SO HARD to be good but any time I had to Sit Like Good Boy my uncontrollable wagging tail made me vibrate across the floor until I hit a wall, or better yet... a nurse from whom I could finagle a belly scratch.

We were all lead into a play room and before we knew it 5 human pups were brought in and we got to play with them! Now... the material from our 90 minute visit (it went 30 minutes long because we were having so much fun) is more than enough for a post of its own, so I'm going to save it for next time. My typist doesn't have the digit-power to write it all out right now and I'm late for my afternoon snoozels, so we'll have to keep you in suspense for next time. All I'll say for now is... I was SO GOOD at this therapy stuff. I'm a natural!

*Quick Paisley Update*
Paisley is healing well but is still quite uncomfortable. Her parents are keeping her crated to limit her activity and she's not taking to it well. Here you can see her nakee leg and stitches:
We figure that the worst is almost over and by next week the real struggle will begin as my grandhumans will have to figure out how to keep her from overusing the limb. She'll begin physical therapy at home, and it works out perfectly that her folks have a pool and a life preserver for her so she can work on the mobility and strength in that leg with some water therapy. I think I should go visit her... therapy is my thing now! This lucky mohawk can work miracles!

That's all for now, folks. Happy feasting!
Big Pupi

12 comments:

Mack said...

WOW! I want a job like that. Did you feel like a superstar??

Mom wants to volunteer for the job of keeping Paisley occupied and petting her 24/7!

Amber-Mae said...

Man, what a job! Must be soooper fun! Good to hear about Paisley. We hope she has a speedy recovery!

Butt wiggles,
Solid Gold Dancer

Alex V. said...

Sounds like loads of fun, Pupi. My mom says I can't do that stuff until I take some classes and pass some tests. Keep being adorable and making the human pups pet you =]

~Loki

FleasGang said...

I can't wait to hear more about your class Pupi. I knew you were going to be a natural at making human pups feel better :-)

Tell Paisley we're thinking about her.

Eric said...

Big Pupi!!! I sooooo wagging proud of you, what a ****superstar****.Can't wait to read how you healed all those leggededs.

Wiry wags, Eric xx

Tadpole said...

When I read the title, I thought you were talking about my girl because she is a therapist and she is always pooped, but then I saw the SuperAwesomeMohawk and I said, "it must be Pupi because my girl is nowhere near cool enough to pull off a mohawk." And I was right!

And my girl says it sounds like your clients love you a lot more than her clients love her. Maybe she should wiggle her bum and scootch across the floor.... She said she'd draw the line at letting people rub her belly, though. (that must be her downfall)

Can't wait to her more about it!!!

Niamh said...

Big Pupi,

I knew you would be a big hit as a Therapy Dog!! Who could resist you? Great ID photo. I can't wait to hear how the rest of your visit.

That is good news that Paisley is recovering well. I just hope her naked leg doesn't get too cold.

Your friend,
Niamh

Fenway said...

I am a seer, a predictor as gifted as Merlin.

In my crystal ball, I see that I will NEVER get to be a therapy dog.

That elevator ride is my brick in the wall. I like elevators only slightly better than levitating vet tables.

You rock, Brave Pupi!

Your Wussy Pal,
Fenway

River said...

That sounds like so much fun and obviously you are very good at your job! We're hoping that Paisley will feel much better very soon!

love & wags,
River

Petra said...

Big Pupi, I am so impressed! That badge is the COOLEST THING EVER!

And I'm so glad to hear that Paisley is doing better, too.

It's so fun to hear good news!

Petra said...

Big Pupi, I am so impressed! That badge is the COOLEST THING EVER!

And I'm so glad to hear that Paisley is doing better, too.

It's so fun to hear good news!

Joe Stains said...

How do I get signed up for this interview stuff??? I'd love to do it as it sounds fabulous. You look great in the pic too. WE are sending healing vibes to Paisley.