PETS BRING COMFORT AND JOY

COMMUNITY NEWS - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

HOW SWEET AM I? Pumpkin, a Yorkshire Terrier, is outfitted and ready for her weekly role as a pet therapy dog, cheering patients at Manor Pines Convalescent
Center in Wilton Manors. At right, Share-A-Pet founder Sachin Mayi, of Fort Lauderdale, and his wife, Bindu Mayi, national director of the nonprofit organization, pose with their Tenzin, a yellow Labrador, the group's first therapy dog. Photos/Marcia Friedenreich

Elderly, lonely get big boost from friendly faces, wagging tails of visiting therapy dogs.
BY MARCIA FREIDENREICH Special Correspondent

Every Saturday, a Yorkshire terrier named Pumpkin brings joy to residents at the Manor Pines Convalescent Center in Wilton Manors.

Pumpkin, 1 1/2, and her owners, Lillian and Mel Feintuch, of Fort Lauderdale, spend four to six hours at the center where residents pet her, talk to her and play with her. The Feintuch family is part of the nonprofit Share-A-Pet organization, founded by Sachin Mayi, of Fort Lauderdale, and his dog, Tenzin, a gentle, yellow Labrador retriever.

In 2003, Mayi decided he wanted to do something to give back to the community and begin visiting elderly people with his pet in tow. There are now 350 volunteers and Mayi's wife, Bindu Mayi, is national director of the organization that operates in California, Florida, New Hampshire and New York.
"It's unconditional love, it's changing their lives," said Lillian Feintuch.
She and Pumpkin helping Jeanette O'Donnell, 52, who lost her speech and the use of one arm when she had a stroke.

For example, O'Donnell now says Pumpkin and a few other words. They even got her out of bed recently to dance around the room with them.

'I've had a good life," Lillian Feintuch said. "With the time I have left I want to pay back and help people. When I get the positive reaction from the people here, I feel 10 feet tall."
Many elderly people are put in homes and forgotten by society, Sachin Mayi said.
"Loneliness is a No. 1 killer," he said. "In most cases, the minute we bring in a dog we get an instant reaction, even in people who were previously non-responsive."

The organization looks for people interested in training for pet therapy with their own pets. For information, go to www.shareapet.org, e-mail bindu@shareapet.org or call 954-630-8763.