Therapy Dog Takes Up Residence At Phila. Retirement Community
By Kim Glovas
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A Northeast Philadelphia retirement community got a new resident Monday, who will be helping out with some therapy programs. His name is Homer and he's a dog.
Homer is a two-and-a-half-year-old Golden Labrador Retriever who was welcomed with open arms at Paul's Run Retirement community on Bustleton Avenue.
"Animals just really give back to the people that they're around and they're caring and loving, they just make everybody smile, it's just a really great thing for us to have and we're really excited," said Katrina Wise, Executive Director and Vice President of Paul's Run.
Megan Escherick is with Canine Partners for Life, which trained Homer.
"He's very loving, but he doesn't have a particularly high energy level and he's very gentle so he'll be good with kind of population, where he's not likely to jump on people or knock them over or scratch them or anything like that," said Escherick.
Between 15 and 20 people on staff have been trained to take care of Homer, including his grooming, feeding and commands.