Volunteers at Fairfax Pets on Wheels have a story to tell. It's about “the moment” when they really understood the impact of their visits on a nursing home patient or assisted living resident. Volunteer teams (a trained resident and his or her temperament-tested, health certified, and trained pet) fan out to 10 facilities with a total of 1,328 beds. They are sometimes the only visitors that residents receive and they bear witness to the ways in which loneliness, depression, and withdrawal are relieved by the comforting presence of a friendly animal. The sense of invisibility that a nursing home resident feels can vanish when a therapy pet appears and that resident is, for the moment, the pet's whole world. For those who have had pets before, visits can also bring back wonderful memories. And for visiting family members the presence of a dog or cat can help them reconnect with loved ones who may otherwise show signs of apathy or disconnection. The sudden sense of peace, the smile, the sense of recognition, the gleam in the eye of an elderly resident--all these are priceless. What is the message here? Never underestimate the power of the human/animal bond. Your gift strengthens the bond and spreads the joy.

Ruth A Benker, President, Board of Directors 12011 Government Center Parkway, Suite 708 Fairfax, VA 22035 703-324-5424 www.fpow.org