Lucky 13 is a great number for one of Parkland’s most loyal residents, Captain! Having just celebrated that milestone birthday, he and his loving owner, Yvonne McAlpin, are affiliated with Share-a-Pet, a local organization that does therapy work in hospitals and nursing homes. Working with them for 2 1/2 years and also with Chris Evert Children’s Hospital, the duo enjoy visiting with friends and patients in hospitals, nursing homes and in any public place where both children and adults are attracted to this friendly, sweet and very calm companion. Last year Captain and Yvonne worked with Joe DiMaggio hospital and just recently began visiting with elderly residents at Aston Gardens in Parkland. “He brings smiles and kisses to anybody and everybody,” Yvonne says with a grin .
Share-A-Pet Pet-Assisted Therapy is a free service offered by trained and insured volunteers like Yvonne and Captain who visit hospitals, nursing homes, and children’s centers. Pet-Assisted Therapy involves the direct interaction between patients and pets. This offers a wide variety of benefits to the patients, with the most obvious being the joy expressed in the human to animal exchange.
Most residents have had pets of their own and are often reminded of the love and affection they felt for their own animals. Anyone who has owned a pet knows the unconditional love they bring to everyone they touch. Captain just had service dog training in Utah and is now an expert in his field! Many facilities find that the need for various medications like anti-depressants has decreased dramatically with the incorporation of Pet-Assisted Therapy from loving dogs like Captain.
A yellow Labrador retriever, Captain loves ice cream and going for walks in his spare time. An empty nester with two independent daughters who no longer live at home, Yvonne loves blessing others with visits from her precious dog. Her husband, Tom, is busy with his job at The World, an amazing residential cruise ship that sails around the globe.
A frequent visitor to Barkland Dog Park and the Farmers Market, Captain welcomes all new friends to come and say hi, and he even gives kisses to strangers!
For more information about Captain and his mission to make everyone feel good, contact Yvonne618@att.net
