Anyone who tells you that you are too
small to make a difference, has never
met Miss Mollee Muffin. The first
time I looked down, into those
beautiful blue eyes, and saw that little white
nose twitching away, I knew it was
love at first sight. Two and a half
years ago, when I brought this little,
round, ball of grey and white fuzz
with floppy ears home with me, I never
could have imagined how she would
transform my world.
From the moment I laid eyes on her, I
knew just what I wanted to do. I had
read several articles about the many
beneficial effects (physically,
emotionally and socially) that animals
can bring to humans. So, I set about
getting Mollee ready to enter the Dove
Lewis Animal Assisted Therapy
Education Program (DLAATE).
When Mollee turned one year old, we
began DLAATE training class. In our
class, there were 20 dogs, one bunny
and one big, red, hairy llama. Even
though the majority of training was
aimed towards our canine classmates,
the most important thing I learned was
to how to view the world through your
animal companion's eyes. Know what
makes her tick, her likes, her
dislikes and how to avoid what makes
her feel uncomfortable.
Well, Mollee graduated with honors,
but I don't think they weren't quite
as sure about me. I mean really, what
50+ year-old woman (in her right mind)
carries a bunny (dressed in a custom
harness dress, traveling inside a matching
purse) almost everywhere she goes? From the
mall to the supermarket, and from church on
Sunday morning to Parents' night at school,
it is always Mollee 'n' Me.
Almost every time we go out together,
total strangers tell me that petting
Mollee, for a only few moments, was
the high point of their whole day. It
is amazing how quickly a warm, fuzzy bunny
with a wiggly little nose, can transform a
depressed, dejected mood into a one of
surprise, joy and delight, by simply popping
her head up out of her purse to peek around.
Mollee's charm is almost universal. We visit
schools, the elderly and shut-ins. However,
one of Mollee's most special gifts is working
with people with severe disablities, who are
unable to communicate verbally.
This is one area that therapy dogs find
especially difficult and stressful, because
they require more direct feedback from the
humans they meet. Yet, everytime, Mollee
enters the room, eyes light up and smiles
spread from wall to wall. As she greets each
one with her soft and tickly "whisker kisses"
against their cheeks, the room fills with
squeals of glee.
Mollee doesn't have to do any special
tricks to get attention. Just sitting
quietly and being snuggly always seems
to do the trick, to open hearts,
soothe souls and change lives, especially mine.
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