Living Center Continued from 6
She wasn’t about to argue with fate. Once Rufener had signed the adoption papers, Farr recalled, “she said something to me that took my breath away: ‘I walked in here with one life partner and I’m walking out with another.’” The day the two went home together marked the program’s first success. Laverne found a temporary home and rejuvenated the Living Center, where loneliness and boredom are common among residents. Then she went on to a permanent home, and a home where she made all the difference. “Animals have a healing power,” Farr said. “They really, really do. And she figured out who needed her most.” With Laverne, the people behind SeniorPAWS did precisely what they set out to do, and what they hope to replicate. With Joey they failed. Failure is a technical term here, though. When a foster family, or nursing home, becomes so hopelessly attached to an animal that they can’t bear to see the creature go, the incident is half-jokingly deemed a “foster failure.” That was the unsurprising outcome of Joey’s arrival at the Living Center early this year. The 8-year-old Chihuahuaminiature pinscher mix swaggered in “like she was meant to be there forever,” Farr said. Without hesitation she cuddled up to her new human roommates, and they, for their part, were smitten. “Joey brings joy to everybody,” said John Paul Trudelle,
PEAK PETS • JACKSON HOLE NEWS&GUIDE, Wednesday, June 24, 2020 - 7 a “parade” of residents filed into newest addition being Jack, a the office of Malenda Hoel- 10-year-old Jack Russell terscher, the director of the Living rier-Chihuahua mix from El Center, to let her know Joey had Paso Animal Services. (The small-dog trend is deliberate. to stay. “We had residents threaten- Farr vets and selects only those ing to leave if we did not adopt animals that will get along with her,” said Connie Hansen, the the elders: not too big, wellcenter’s life enrichment director. behaved, energetic but gentle.) SeniorPAWS is accepting Kate Wienman, a speech applications pathologist for Jack’s at the Living adoption. Center who Though devised the the program idea for Seis still fresh, n i o r PAW S , its first sucsaid it’s not cess seems a just the resitribute to its dents who potential to stand to gain, unite people either. and animals She and in a way Farr the rest of the calls “symbistaff have en— Nancy Rufener otic.” Human joyed the dogs adopter of laverne and dog each just as much, offer the other as have visitsomething viing friends and families. Many say a stron- tal to their well-being. Residents say Joey is a conger sense of community has stant source of happiness at the formed around Joey. “It feels more like home Living Center. And whenever RYAN DORGAN / NEWS&GUIDE when you have animals around,” Nancy Rufener’s thoughts turn At the request of a number of St. John’s Living Center residents, Joey said Danny Keller, 76, another dark, comfort and laughter are was adopted and now lives there permanently. only as far away as her new resident. The SeniorPAWS program companion. Even if Laverne is 80, who has lived at the center feed her treats, along with scraps for just over a year. “I think she’s of food from their own meals. also aims to integrate the Liv- a bed hog, even if she seems to the right dog and the right con- Since the pandemic compelled ing Center with the broader be constantly on a mission to ditions. Just perfect.” them to eat in their bedrooms, community of Jackson Hole by trip her human in the kitchen, She’s become a sort of mas- Joey has taken to roaming the giving the residents a role in she has helped Rufener through finding the right home for the this period of loss as only a dog cot, not to mention Employee halls and poking her head in dogs they foster. Once they’ve can. of the Month (a distinction that wherever she can find crumbs, spent two weeks with an ani“Without her I don’t know came with a signed letter from not without encouragement. mal, it’s listed for adoption and what I would have done,” St. John’s Health CEO Paul “She loves to mooch,” residents get to meet and talk Rufener said. “She’s one of the Beaupre, despite the fact that Trudelle said. “She looks at me with prospective families. reasons I get up in the morning Joey barks at him whenever he very sad and hungry. But a pet Coronavirus put a damper on and get on with the day.” comes around). is a pet. What are we supposed the program for a few months, While the staff see to most to do?” as staff debated when it would Contact Cody Cottier of her day-to-day needs, the With canine charms like be safe to bring in more dogs. via 732-7071 or jlove@ residents take her for walks and that, it didn’t take long before But it’s back on track, with the jhnewsandguide.com.
“She’s one of the reasons I get up in the morning and get on with the day.”
Pet
P lace P lus Grub-n-Stuff
We established our pet food bank to help those dog & cat owners who are finding it difficult to feed their pets because of the Coronavirus Pandemic. If that is your situation, please pickup food left on the porch of the dog house in front of our store.
MARTIN LANE
HIGH SCHOOL ROAD
HWY 89 OR BROADWAY
GREGORY LANE
SOUTH PARK LOOP
Our Pet Food Bank Is Still Open & We Thank The Following Members Of Our Community For Their Generous Contributions To It:
Susan Armstrong Ellie Baker Kimberly Brandt Ben Brettell Chris Butler Ann Dwan Alice Finley Kent Fiske Jessica Foster & Frankie Sharene Garaman Lynn Hammond
Betsy Hesser Connie Kemmerer Angela Kennedy Karen & Amanda Lucas Jim & Barbara Lyons Lisa Marapese Donna Marts Valerie & Mike May Rob & Ruth Peters Leonard Purkis Gretchen Randolph
Special thanks to Buckrail, Jackson Hole News & Guide, and PAWS for informing the community about the pet food bank with news coverage, resource guides, and social media posts.
Lee Riddell Blanch Robertson Nancy Rufener Tea Sheehan Janice Skinner Ian & Victoria Smith Lisa Vallely Becky Watson Kay & Tom Wilson And all those that donated anonymously
Thanks to our vendors and pet food companies for their contributions: Animal Supply Company, Canidae Pet Food, Muenster Milling, & Nutrisource Pet Foods.
1645 Martin Lane | M-F 9:30-6pm, Sat 9:30-5pm | petplaceplus.com | 307-733-5355
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