Joy Unleashed: The Story of Bella, the Unlikely Therapy Dog

by Jean Baur, Aimee Scott (Foreword by)

Overview

In 2007, Mary Eldergill, a volunteer member of Amigos de Los Animales (Friends of the Animals), discovered a group of newborn puppies on Dead Dog Beach in Puerto Rico. Mary rescued and rehabilitated them and, three months later, they flew to Newark, New Jersey, to be placed in their forever homes.

Jean Baur and her husband adopted one of Mary’s rescues—a dog named Bella—and opened her Pennsylvania home to her new best friend. Just as Jean enrolled Bella in certified therapy-dog classes, she lost her job at the age of sixty-five. This new work, visiting hospital patients with her therapy job, gave Jean hope and a new purpose in life.

After moving to Connecticut, Bella’s work expanded to nursing homes and elementary schools, as well as local hospitals and cancer centers. She met an Alzheimer’s patient who learned to smile again after Bella took a treat from her hand. She also befriended a six-year-old boy with autism (who previously held a deep fear of dogs) along with a disabled hospital patient who was withdrawn and uncommunicative until Bella jumped into the bed with him and coaxed him to open up again.

Jean and Bella’s journey into the world of therapy-dog work gave them a bright, new outlook—and has helped countless others overcome their own struggles—while proving to all that broken souls can, indeed, be healed.

Joy Unleashed is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the true power of the human-canine bond.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781510702400
Publisher:	Skyhorse
Publication date:	08/16/2016
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	494,711
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Jean Baur has published widely in both fiction and nonfiction, and is known for her keen observations, humor and direct style. Jean is a dynamic speaker and a member of the National Speakers Association, and Bella is very well behaved. Jean and Bella reside in Stonington, Connecticut.

Aimee Scott is a special education teacher with twenty years experience. She teaches at LEARN's intensive program in Old Lyme, Connecticut, and is known for her ability to connect with students with special needs. She loves her "cherubs." She and Jean and Bella worked together at Deans Mill School, Stonington, Connecticut, and Aimee resides in Waterford.

Table of Contents

Dedication vii

Foreword ix

Introduction xii

Part I Early Days 1

1 What Were We Thinking? 3

2 This Is a Crazy Place: Hospital Orientation 8

3 The Cat Is Not a Snack 13

4 The Infusion Room 18

5 Baby Steps 26

6 Dealing with the Unexpected 31

7 Progress 37

Part II Finding the Right Job 43

8 Saying Goodbye 45

9 One Step Forward and Fifteen Back 54

10 Beverly 60

11 An Ail-American Dog 68

12 Leonard 76

13 Time to Walk Away 85

Part III Sit, Stay, Paws Up 91

14 Navigating Through a Hospital 93

15 Canine Good Citizen 101

16 Bonding 111

17 The Therapy Dog Certification Test 117

18 When a Dog Is Like a Teenager 123

19 Revolving Door 129

Part IV Working Girl 137

20 Expect Nothing, Be Surprised 139

21 We Go to School 145

22 Favorites Can Still Bite 152

23 What We Do 159

24 Invitations 166

25 Beverly's Blessing 175

26 Every Dog Has a Story 181

27 Our Very Own School 190

28 Slowness Is the New Kindness 200

29 Legacy from Angus 209

30 At the End There Is a Dog 220

A Note from the Author 234

Further Reading 236

Therapy Dog Websites/Organizations 241

Acknowledgments 243

Editorial Reviews

"This isn’t just another book about a dog and a person rescuing one another. It’s also about how, together, Jean Baur and her dog, Bella, find ever more creative ways to understand each other—and then share their beautiful gift with countless other people who so desperately need to smile." —Kim Kavin, national award-winning author of Little Boy Blue and The Dog Merchants

“This is a wonderful book full of hope and surprises, one of those rare literary treats that I can open anywhere, at any time, and simply feel better.” —Michael Morse, author of Mr. Wilson Makes It Home

“If Valentine's Day turns your thoughts to love, consider the part love plays in the story of Bella and Jean. . . . Without serendipity at some of life's hardest turns, all of the characters in this tale could have led quite different lives. As it is, they grew to become ripples in an ever-increasing circle of love."” — Best Friends Magazine

"This isn’t just another book about a dog and a person rescuing one another. It’s also about how, together, Jean Baur and her dog, Bella, find ever more creative ways to understand each other—and then share their beautiful gift with countless other people who so desperately need to smile." —Kim Kavin, national award-winning author of Little Boy Blue and The Dog Merchants

“This is a wonderful book full of hope and surprises, one of those rare literary treats that I can open anywhere, at any time, and simply feel better.” —Michael Morse, author of Mr. Wilson Makes It Home

“If Valentine's Day turns your thoughts to love, consider the part love plays in the story of Bella and Jean. . . . Without serendipity at some of life's hardest turns, all of the characters in this tale could have led quite different lives. As it is, they grew to become ripples in an ever-increasing circle of love."” — Best Friends Magazine

From the Publisher