Joyce Polley knows all about cold noses, warm hearts through her longtime work with the St. John Ambulance (SJA) dog therapy program, for which she recently received a prestigious award.
On Jan. 11, Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin presented the Order of St. John to a number of volunteers with the organization, though Polley was unable to make it to Victoria for the ceremony at that time. Another SJA member accepted the award on her behalf, and presented it to Polley in a surprise ceremony at the Shuswap Lodge on Sunday, April 7, with extended family, friends and other volunteers there to celebrate her accomplishment.
91裸聊视频淚t is a very special award, it really is,91裸聊视频� she said of the honour, which includes a medal and certificate, and is just one of five national orders in the Canadian Honours System, which also includes the Order of Canada, Order of Military Merit, Order of Merit of the Police Forces and the Royal Victorian Order.
Admission into the Order is based on merit and the nominee91裸聊视频檚 quantity and quality of work, volunteer service and sustained involvement and commitment to SJA. Polley, who is only the second person in Salmon Arm to get this recognition, fits the bill as she accumulated 8,740 hours of volunteer time over approximately 10 years with the therapy program.
Her journey with St. John Ambulance began because of a golden retriever who was very gentle and just had a quality about him.
91裸聊视频淚 didn91裸聊视频檛 know anything about therapy dogs, but I just thought this dog was sort of special,91裸聊视频� she said of going through the training with him. 91裸聊视频淚t was a learning experience for me too. It was entirely new, I91裸聊视频檇 never done anything like that.91裸聊视频�
While that dog never actually did get put to work, Polley stayed with the program with her labradoodle Moby, and the duo became a very well-known at hospitals, seniors care facilities and schools. She added that the handler and dog both help individuals in their own ways, and really work together to comfort people.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 different than having a pet, the dog is truly your partner,91裸聊视频� she said, adding that together they help bring comfort. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not just the number of hours you put in, but the quality of what you91裸聊视频檙e doing. That91裸聊视频檚 the whole point of what we91裸聊视频檙e doing, providing that emotional support, that nurturing.91裸聊视频�
Polley added that while it91裸聊视频檚 rewarding, it can also be difficult as they deal with terminal patients and grieving families, whoever needs them.
91裸聊视频淚t can be hard on us91裸聊视频� because it91裸聊视频檚 very emotional,91裸聊视频� she admitted. 91裸聊视频淓veryone coming to the hospital is stressed.91裸聊视频�
There are also, however, the cases that have happy endings that reaffirm what they do.
Polley recalled one young man who was from out of town and recovering from an car accident alone in hospital on Christmas Day. They found him crying in his room, and Moby immediately went to cuddle him. When they ran into him again a few weeks later as he was being discharged, he gave Moby and hug and said, 91裸聊视频測ou saved my life.91裸聊视频�
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