About Dunwoody reporter. (Sandy Springs, GA) 20??-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 18, 2013)
Atlanta’s Premier Veterinary Care Center We offer a unique combination of general veterinary care, animal rehabilitation and acupuncture, hospitalization, boarding, as well as advanced procedures in small animal surgery and dentistry. Wellness Screening Surgery Dentistry Veterinary Acupuncture Prescription Diets Physical Rehabilitation Bathing Boarding Pharmacy Laser Therapy 553 Pharr Road NE | 404-237-4601 | prahvet.com The PROFESSIONALS IN THE ART OF ANIMAL GROOMING Since 1975 i $10 OFF i l First Service | I for any | , First Time , Client! j THE PET SET-BUCKHEAD THE PET SET-MIDTOWN 2480 Briardiff Rd • Atlanta 30329 976 Piedmont Ave • Atlanta 30309 404.633.8755 404.249.6668 THE PET SET-MOBILE 404.633.8755 Make reservations and appointments at www.ThePetSet.com SfPupcakes Playcare ■ lit I VrruxXt &. cjA^Mvnwnxj/ a)X\ GROOMING $ Bath & Nails Ji* Bath & Trim •i* Spa Groom PLAYCARE $ Open Playground Superior Quality Customer Service 404.237.7440 www.pupcakesplaycare.com 2989 N. Fulton Drive, Suite B, Atlanta, GA 30305 PET REPORTER J.D. MOOR Canterbury Court resident Jackie Lynn enjoys her breakfast in the company of Ranger and his handler, Dave Frew. Pooch puts smiles on faces of total strangers BV J.D. MOOR He’s 10 years old and he works like a dog. Actually, Ranger is a dog, remarkable in certain ways. He’s a tri-color Llewellin English set ter with a heartwarming disposition. He’s also a certified therapy dog with a resume that continues to expand. He has consoled victims of disaster through HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response (AACR), the Federal Emer gency Management Agency, and the American Red Cross. He works as a Happy Tails comfort dog, and he’s been an inspiration to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. All on a volunteer basis. “He lets me know when it’s time to do more work,” said his Sandy Springs human companion and handler, Dave Frew. “He’ll go to the closet, fetch his working bag and take it to the door.” Frew lost his wife, Stephanie, to can cer four years ago, but her spirit lives on in Ranger. Stephanie first experienced the wonders of working dogs as she un derwent treatment. She wanted to give back. She got Ranger, they got certi fied training together, and they provid ed comfort to others while she struggled with her own health. “Stephanie had one final wish. She asked me to pledge that I would get cer tified to handle Ranger and share his love with others, not just in chemother apy clinics, but also in home hospices, hospitals, funeral homes, and rehabilita tion and assisted-living facilities,” Frew said. Nancy Sisson, vice president of Hap py Tails, recalls when Dave and Rang er were evaluated. “Ranger had already passed the test with Stephanie, but had to pass again with Dave. They did beau tifully. I don’t think there was a dry eye among us. We knew what that day meant to Dave ... and to Ranger.” And so a new incarnation of the ‘Frew Crew’ began. “We put smiles on the faces of total strangers. It’s been a calling, like carry ing on her ministry,” Frew said. One recent morning, Dave and Ranger teamed up to visit residents at the Canterbury Court seniors complex in Buckhead. “Ready to go to work?” Frew asked. Ranger perked up, wagged his tail, champing at the bit. Ranger mingled with a group of la dies, giving each some one-on-one at tention and showing off his obedient re straint, awaiting the “OK” command before eating a treat Dave set on his paw. Then Ranger and Dave saw some folks in their rooms. Jackie Lynn was just finishing her breakfast in bed. Ranger doted on her, a bit distracted perhaps. “He doesn’t love me, he loves my eggs,” Lynn said joking ly. As the duo left, she hollered: “You come back soon. Woof-Woof!” Mary Lynn Morgan recognized how therapeutic Ranger‘s drop-in was to her. As a former dentist, she often had a dog sit beside her child patients during ap pointments, just to help relax them. “You’re so beautiful,” she said to 20 | OCT. 18 —OCT. 31,2013 | www.ReporterNewspapers.net