Hand-In-Paw

- In order by last name, choose a letter -

A - D E - H I - L M - P Q - T U - Z

Phyllis & Kim Jenny / Rosemary Johnson / Nancy Kucik
Hannah Layne / Melannie Layne / Irene Lynn / Allyson Lyrene

Phyllis & Kim Jenny and Winston
It is rewarding when you get to see what our therapy visits mean to people, particularly at Pawsitive Living and the assisted living facilities. The people we visit get to share in the love and enjoyment that we get from Winston. It's also rewarding to meet all the great people involved with Hand-in-Paw, with many of them becoming good friends.

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Rosemary Johnson, Sarge & Luka

As Sarge and I walked down the hall of the Psych Unit, a little boy who hadn't participated in the group visit was standing outside one of the patient rooms. Very shy, clinging to the door, he looked at Sarge and said, "I like him." OT Lisa Trentham stopped and talked to him a little while. As we walked down the hall to leave, Lisa told me, "Those were the first words he's spoken since coming to the Unit."

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Nancy Kucik and Laser

Several of our visits have been very meaningful, but I often remember an elderly hospice patient we saw regularly for three months. She loved seeing Laser, and always remembered his name. On our last visit, although she was fading in and out of consciousness, she noticed us by her bed, she smiled and whispered, "Laser." Because it was a struggle for her to breathe or speak, I told that there was no need to talk, we would just sit and keep her company. She smiled, and Laser curled up against her hip, right at the place where her hand could reach him. She rested her hand on his back, and we three sat that way, quietly, for about thirty minutes. When we left, she whispered, "Thank you." I think we all knew that would be our last visit. It's something I'll never forget.

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Hannah Layne & Mike

I'm just getting started on visits with Mike, but I would like them to make the people we visit happy and to feel Mike and I are helping them to excel at whatever they want to do – and helping them to smile.

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Melannie Layne and Mike

I have grown in many ways by being a Pet Partner. I have seen miracles and I have made smiles. I have encouraged youth and I have impacted lives. I have educated and I have listened. I have helped people forget problems, if only for a moment. I have spoken to those who cannot speak and I have spoken to those who cannot hear. I have sat in silence and sympathized. I have laughed and I have cried. I have appreciated. I have loved and lost. I wouldn't change a thing.

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Irene Lynn and Billie

Irene served as a Pet Partner for eight years with her Dalmatian, Daisy, before they retired as a team in 2005. She now works with her Standard Poodle, Billie. With her many years of volunteering with HIP, Irene and her therapy dogs have worked in many of the facilities we serve, including UAB Hospital, UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, and at many community event.

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Allyson Lyrene & Gracie

Allyson Lyrene and Gracie are active participants in the Sit, Stay, Read! program that is part of the YWCA’s After-School Enrichment Program. The program gives after-school support to children living in community shelters. It gives them the extra attention they need by providing them with tutors and academic enrichment activities. The YWCA staff is extremely complimentary of the work done by teams like Allyson and Gracie. They find the combination of being relaxed while focused on reading skills measurably improves the children’s reading skills.

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