Volunteers bring dogs for therapeutic visits with seniors and kids
Nancy Shurkoff and her golden retriever Sawyer are regular visitors to The Hickman Friends Senior Community in West Chester as part of the PAWS For People program, celebrating 10 years of bringing volunteer dogs and owners to seniors and kids.
WEST CHESTER — The Hickman Friends Senior Community of West Chester is pleased to partner with PAWS for People, which is a non-profit organization that provides therapeutic animal visits to seniors and children and is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
PAWS’ volunteers and their dogs come to the Hickman several days a week for individual and group visits with residents to help promote emotional and physical well-being. A golden retriever named Sawyer and his owner, Nancy Shurkoff, were the first volunteers to come to The Hickman from PAWS for People.
Skurkoff tells the story of how she and Sawyer came to The Hickman. This story also honors the legacy of Ross, who was The Hickman’s live-in service dog for eight years.
“It was the Fall of 2013. Sawyer had an annual check-up with his doggie doctor, Dr. Brenda Perkins at West Chester Animal Hospital,” Shurkoff said. “She is a fantastic human, and an exceptional veterinarian. She adores Sawyer and has always loved his personality and his kind heart. She knows we are part of PAWS for People, as we talk about it all the time when we have a visit. During this particular visit and story sharing time of PAWS experiences, Dr. Perkins shared a personal experience of her own.
“Sawyer’s doggie doctor was also the doggie doctor to Ross, a golden retriever who lived at The Hickman until he passed away in 2013. Volunteers walked him, residents gave him treats, and everyone loved him. He would roam the halls, drink from his various water bowls and snuggle up at night with numerous residents. Dr. Perkins shared some Ross stories with us. She lovingly pet Sawyer, smiled up and me with her squinty, peaceful eyes, and asked, ‘How do you guys feel about seniors?’ I smiled and said, ‘Seniors rock!’
“Dr. Perkins gave my information to Jen Harris, Community Life Manager at The Hickman. Jen called me shortly after. We shared dog stories, and she asked me if Sawyer and I would consider visiting. I told her we would gladly do so; that I would get in touch with PAWS and we would get something set up. Sawyer and I met with Jen on November 22, 2013, and we have been visiting and making friends at The Hickman ever since.”
If you have a great dog like Sawyer and are interested in bringing him or her to The Hickman to meet our residents, please contact Jen Harris at 484/760-6306 or jharris@thehickman.org. For more information about PAWS for People, which operates throughout the Delaware Valley, please visit www.pawsforpeople.org. For more information about The Hickman Friends Senior Community, a personal care home for seniors serving West Chester since 1891, please visit www.thehickman.org.
