Final

Mari Nakamitsu

7 April 2011

J. Shimabukuro

Creative Non-Fiction

I enter the room and become lost in time.  Everything is motionless as small specks of dust, indiscriminant, float and glide while bathed in light.  There are birds calling for one another outside the window and everything is shrouded in warm air.  From the moment I met her I knew what part of my life would be.  (THESIS) It is because of her that I knew I would work with therapy dogs in my work (THESIS).  She was something special and someone I knew I could count on.  When everything seemed unstable, she was a rock, ever quiet, ever listening and always there.  She would never get tired of me, complain or judge and sometimes that’s what people need.  Even when I knew I was wrong, I just needed someone to talk to. 

Ever since I can remember, I have always wanted a dog, something that most kids want.  I watch/ed a lot of documentaries on animals and especially liked the ones about dogs.  I knew everything about them and to this day am still expanding my reservoirs of knowledge on this subject.  I did not really care what kind of dog, as long as it was a dog.  I was six years old when my mom finally conceded and decided that perhaps I was ready for a dog.  My mom was tireless in her research for the perfect breed.  We went to the Humane Society countless numbers of times but never found the perfect dog for us.  We searched through breeders of all kinds of dogs and still never found the one for us.  Until one day we looked at some Yorkshire Terrier puppies, (or Yorkies) and we found her.  Since then, Yorkies have gained incredible popularity among celebrities and women as small dogs that just look cute.  But trust me, though they are small and cute, they are still terriers at heart.  Terriers derived from the latin word “terra” or earth, bred for hunting small vermin, and known for their intelligence and tenacity.  She was a terrier in every sense of the word.  As soon as she saw us, she perked up and got excited, walking upon her brothers and sisters in the process.  Others might think that she is just a hyper dog, but in life she was not at all very excitable or hyper.  My mom knew this was the dog for us.  She was interested in us, not dominant, overly hyper or aggressive.  We took her home with us. 

I spent 14 years with her and grew very attached to the dog that was always at my side whether I was watching tv, reading, or walking around the house.  I always felt more secure with her around me.  Whenever I felt afraid she would always check it out first and I would then follow confidently, knowing if she is not afraid then there is no reason for me to be either.  She would only bark if there was someone she did not recognize in our driveway, or if she needed her water or food bowl filled.  Being an only child, she was like the sibling I never had.  I liked having her presence around me.  She was the catalyst to me wanting to incorporate dog therapy in my work whatever it may be.  I researched animal therapy and just by walking on the street with her, if was apparent, dogs make people feel better.  Petting a dog and releasing your emotions onto it makes people less stressed and more at ease.  It was just relaxing to me to watch her sunbathe in the back room, sprawled out on her side in the golden sun, at ease.  She made me understand life better and feel more relaxed.  Dogs will not tell people your secrets, your hopes and dreams and they are loyal to the end.  I knew that people used dogs for therapy, but I thought to myself, “not enough”.

I want to become a geriatric social worker, somewhere I can help the elderly live a more peaceful life, the best that they can until the inevitable.  Having a dog with bring unity and peace, encouraging them to talk and interact with someone.  Besides that they will be getting some physical therapy as well that will not seem so mechanical and harsh.  By simply taking a walk or throwing a ball with a dog will help them and not make it feel like such a chore.  A lot of people in nursing homes do not get visitors or regular visitors, having a dog there all the time will make things less lonely and will allow the people to interact with someone all the time  and make them feel more secure. 

It is my first dog, Brownie that made me know that this is what I want to do in life.  I want to help people and dogs because I understand the powerful connection between them and realize that I want to incorporate strongly, therapy dogs in my life’s work.