Sisters children benefit from new therapy dogs

Relocating to Sisters from Tulare County, California, in April was a last-minute deal for Hal and Jennifer Boley and their four dogs.

"We lived in Three Rivers, which is near the entrance to Sequoia National Park, for 30 years, but just couldn't take the heat during the summer anymore. So we were on our way to check out a home in Washington, when my son called and said he was moving to Bend, Oregon, with the grandkids, so we changed direction," said Jennifer Boley. "Since we didn't want to live in the city, we stopped in Sisters and just knew it was the right place for us to settle down."

Two of their four furry family members are certified therapy dogs. Griffyn is a golden retriever and Sham'iran, a great pyrenees.

Boley raised golden retrievers and worked as a veterinarian technician for over 40 years. Her first two golden retrievers, Cody and Wendy, were rescue dogs and when Wendy gave birth to a beautiful litter of puppies, Golden retrievers became an integral part of Boley's life.

"One winter, about 18 years ago, a skier disappeared in the Sequoia National Park, and that motivated me to get into search and rescue with Kara and Larsonary, two of my goldens at the time," said Boley. "We worked with the Tulare County Sheriff Department and the National Park Service."

As Kara aged she went from being active in search and rescue to becoming a therapy dog. Being a therapy dog for the frail and elderly turned out to be Kara's true gift, when one day something magical happened.

"I took Kara to visit patients in skilled nursing facilities, and one day we came across a man who had been in a coma for weeks," Boley said. "The man's father was sitting by his bedside when Kara and I came in to visit. I asked the father if I could help his son pet Kara, by putting my hand on top of his hand. I guided his hand gently over her fur back and forth for a few minutes. The man turned his head toward Kara and opened his eyes; it was his very first voluntary move since the coma! He then started petting Kara on his own. It was a miracle."

Therapy dogs have been used around the globe for years, and there is mounting evidence that dogs truly can heal. A patient's blood pressure drops and heart rate slows, with just one look at a therapy dog strolling into a hospital room.

Boley utilized her golden retrievers as therapy dogs to provide affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes and hospices, and to people with learning difficulties.

After Griffyn was born six years ago, Boley decided to stop breeding golden retrievers since the shelters were full of unwanted mixed breeds and purebreds.

"I had to keep Griffyn, he was the first born and there was something very special about him, he was just so watchful," said Boley. "When Griffyn was a year old he was tested as a therapy dog with Therapy Dogs International and passed with flying colors."

Boley and Griffyn visited hospice patients in skilled nursing facilities and private homes.

"We had one patient that we visited every week for three years at her home. She was blind but just loved Griffyn, and on her 105th birthday her family invited Griffyn to go with them to an elegant restaurant in which under the special circumstances, he was allowed to go. He sat right beside my chair and had filet mignon," said Boley.

When Griffyn was two years old, Boley adopted a great pyrenees and named him Sham'iran, which is Hebrew for guardian. He is also a certified therapy dog.

Since moving to Sisters just a few short months ago, Griffyn has found his way into the hearts of the children at Camp Sunrise.

Camp Sunrise is a special place for children age 7-14 that have experienced the recent death of a loved one. The camp is open each June to 40 children who reside in Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties, and is free of charge. The camp is held at the United Methodist Church camp on Suttle Lake, sponsored by the joint effort of hospice programs.

"Griffyn always seems to have a smile on his face for everyone, and a lot of the kids gravitated toward him at the camp," Boley recalled.