Darien Whippet Comforts the Dying and Encourages Struggling Readers

You say your dog makes you feel better, without speaking a word? It's not your imagination.

Next time you visit a local hospital, or even the Darien Library, be on the lookout for Brasil, a four-year-old whippet. Brasil isn't a mere pet—he's a teacher and medical aide.

"Brasil has logged more than 1,800 hours of service in hospitals and 200 hours in local libraries," says Donald P. Smith, the dog's owner and trainer.

Smith devotes half his waking hours to the Healing Hounds of Stamford Hospital program. Smith's day job, mornings, is serving as the Republican Registrar of Voters in Darien Town Hall, and sometimes you'll see Brasil sitting in his office.

"Medical studies from UCLA show that patients can drop their blood pressure 15 points just by petting a dog, while their serotonin and endorphin levels go up," says Smith.

Healing Companions

Smith became involved with the dogs in the hospital during his wife's 10-year battle with heart disease.

"Over the course of 43 visits she really took to the therapy dogs," he says. "When she died in 2006, I got involved."

Highly trained dogs like Brasil are used in rehabilitation, pediatrics and geriatrics as well as working with psychiatric and autistic patients. But perhaps Smith's greatest reward is working with dying patients in the hospice.

"Some families can't deal with loved one in their final days and abandon them. So I get calls at 8 p.m. asking for help," says Smith.

He then drives Brasil to Stamford and watches as the dog sits on the bed of dying patients.

"I believe this is God's gift. St. Francis had it right. He put something in these animals," says Smith.

Read Better Petting a Pooch

Dogs-as-therapists also extends to helping kids with reading problems. Reading Education Assistance Dogs or READ is deceptively simple: A child sits with a dog and reads aloud to it.

"The dogs aren't judgmental and don't tease kids who have trouble reading," says Smith. He claims kids in the program have seen their readings scores jump an entire grade level after working with the dogs.

Recently Smith and Brasil were visited by a young boy who asked if he could read to to the dog. Smith watched as the boy sat down, petting Brasil with one hand and reading aloud from a Braille book with the other.

Smith and Brasil visit the Darien Library once a month. The next READ session will take place on April 17, 1:00-2:30 pm in the Children's Library.

Dogs Needed, Will Train

The 79-year-old Smith isn't the only Darien resident involved with therapy dogs. Also in the program, which requires at least one hour of service per week, are Ines Giannetti, Donna Haynes, Stacey Harmon, Cate Leach and Sascha and Audrey Sandberg.

The Healing Hounds program is not seeking monetary donations, but they are looking for more dogs. And not just whippets.

"It's all a matter of temperament," says Smith. "We have everything from Chihuahuas to Great Danes.

For more information, contact Smith at 203-655-4787 or donaldpaulsmith@optonline.net

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