Exciting therapy visit!

Tabby writes (from Friday):

Lovely day; bright and sunny and kinda warm!  It's the first time I didn't need my jacket since last fall!  There are all kinds of smells in the air from the plants blooming, and birds singing and flying.  We walked through the park on the way to H. and people were sitting on the benches enjoying the sun.  I got petted by one of Mommy's friends who asks for money in the park.  He was a customer when she worked at a grocery store around there, so now she talks with him for a bit when she sees him in the park.

At H., we knew something was different the moment we got to the parking lot.  There was a big trailer building there, that Mommy says is a health cliinic on wheels.  She thought maybe the people at H. were getting their blood pressure checked and things like that.  We went inside the regular building, and there was a health fair going on!  Tables were set up along the sides of the lobby and the hallways, and people were at the displays talking.  R. said we could sign in and go see the tables before our visit.  We got Mommy's nametag and signed me in (I have my own sign-in sheet with my name on it), put our bags (my carrier and Mommy's bag) in the office, and went back out into the hallway.  I wanted to go back into the office because I didn't know what was going on in the hallway.  I wasn't scared, just a bit startled, so Mommy picked me up and held me.  We stood for a few minutes, looking and listening to everything going on, so that I could get used to the disruption of my regular routine.

Some of my friends came walking by us and greeted me, so I felt better about what was going on.  After a few minutes, I wanted back in the stroller again, so Mommy let me sit in it.  Then we started going around to the tables so Mommy could see what there was to see.

The first table we stopped at didn't have anything on it, but it had two ladies sitting at either end of it.  They had papers, and were there to talk about what was on their paper, but didn't have a formal display.  One of the ladies petted me, then kind of laughed.  She told us, "I was going to make a joke about the cat when I saw you over there, but then I thought better of it and figured that she must be here for a purpose."  Mommy said yes, then explained about my therapy work.  She and I answered a lot of questions from that lady, demonstrating how I ask for petting by putting my paw up, and demonstrating how I am so calm with everything that goes on around me.  While we were talking, residents walked by and stopped to greet me by name and pet me.

As we made our way down the hallway, we saw two ladies at another table with a display waving to us and calling us over to their table.  Puzzled, Mommy wheeled me over.  It turns out they were from DoveLewis Animal Hospital, and had a booth about their planned giving/legacy fund (designating their nonprofit in a will).  DoveLewis also has an animal-assisted therapy program, and Oddard the dog (who visits the weeks we don't) is part of their program.  The ladies had just been talking about therapy animals, and were wondering if there were ever cat teams.  They had just decided that cats wouldn't do well in this situations, then we appeared!  So, of course, we answered a lot of questions from them and I got lots of petting from them too!  Mommy explained that originally we'd wanted to go through their group, and had trained using the Delta Society manual (the same one they use), but that I didn't qualify for the DoveLewis program.  So that's why my certification is going to be through the therapy animal program at SARA instead.  They thought that was wonderful that there was some place I could get certified, because they know how important my work is and could see that I am well-qualified for it.  Afterwards, they told the assistant wellness director that they loved talking with us and meeting me, and were so glad that there was a therapy cat who visited there!

We talked with a couple other people and looked at quilts, therapeutic gardening programs, medical alert systems, and chocolates (looked, not tasted, as chocolate is toxic for me and the ones offered as samples had peanuts, which Mommy is allergic to).  Then we went up to visit with my friends.

I was in a semi-silly mood, because of all the excitement.  I didn't want to sit on laps, but loved being on everyone's beds kneading their blankets.  There was a new nurse on the floor, and one of the other nurses introduced me to her, then told us that one of the people I used to visit with, who had gone back to her real home (she was recuperating at H. under doctor's orders instead of as a resident), had absolutely loved visiting with me.  Mommy smiled and nodded, and the nurse looked a little surprised that we remembered exactly who that was!  We remember all of our friends there.

My friend M., who now has a room of her own, was using the bathroom when we got to her room.  She was the last one we visited for the day, but we didn't want to pass her by, so we waited outside in the hallway until she was out.  She was so glad to see me as usual, and even remembered that it had been a long time since I'd been there!  I was so happy to see her, too!  She was standing up, using her walker, and I walked around it and her the whole time until she got over to her chair.  Instead of sitting in the chair, she offered it to me, so I hopped up there so she could pet me better.  She talked to me and I listened, then she talked with Mommy, too.  I got down off the chair and went around M.'s feet and walker some more, so she bent down with one hand still on the walker to pet me.  I hopped up on my hind feet so that she could pet the top of my head!  They both were sooooo proud of me for doing that, so that M. could pet me more easily!  I did that a few times, alternating with going around feet and walker, then hopped onto the chair again.  I wanted to get up on the little tray table, so M. picked up her lipstick container from there so I wouldn't knock it down.  I sniffed a stuffed kangaroo puppet that was new since the last time I was there, then headed toward a flower.  Mommy scooped me up and held me, since she didn't want me eating the flower!  M. and she laughed at that, and I wasn't really bummed because I was getting cuddled and petted.

Tabby's Fashion Show Debut!

Tabby says:

I'm so excited that I couldn't wait to tell everyone about my fashion show debut! Mommy brought her digital camera, so we were able to get pictures of the setting-up and some video of my part of the show!

We got there about 4:30 pm, even though we didn't need to be there until 5:30. Mommy wanted me to get accustomed to the environment before a lot of the dogs got there. It took me about 45 minutes to go from my scared spot on the couch to the floor and exploring a little. At first, I was stress-purring really hard and shaking. Mommy just let me be for a while, to let me get used to the situation on my own. Once I calmed down a bit, with her petting me, she put me down on the floor to see what I would do. I sniffed, watched one of the dogs who was there already, then jumped back up on the couch to watch as everyone started filing in.

This is the first dog to arrive, beside Lexi. Lexi is the co-owner of LexiDog, along with her human. They were helping everyone. The dog in the picture is Tucker. He really didn't seem interested in me, other than to sniff the air. In the picture, you can see all of our outfits lined up on hangers on the fence. Each one had the model's name on it, so we could easily tell whose was whose.
This is Gracie the goat. She's a therapy animal with the DoveLewis Animal-Assisted Therapy & Education program. She was the surprise guest model this year.

Eowyn came in wearing a tutu! It wasn't her costume, but she loves dressing up so much that she came in an outfit.






Here is a closeup of my shirt from bentley B. It was really comfortable, and perfect for the "rocker chick" style they were going for!

I just chilled in the middle of the "mini dog park" in my shirt, and let everyone love on me. All the handlers came to see me and pet me, and the dogs came over to sniff me and lick me. I got lots and lots of doggie kisses!

Koda really liked me. I was the first cat he's ever seen! He sniffed me, sniffed some more, drooled a bit on me, then licked me, then sniffed some more, and then pawed me gently to see if I would play with him! Then he rolled over on his back, showing me he definitely wanted to play! I was his favorite friend there!

Oliver also thought I was a good friend. He's a year and a half, and all puppy! He followed me around, and constantly wanted to sniff in my face and see what I was doing!





Next, we met the other cat team: Karen and George. So it was Karen & Tabby meeting Karen & George! We all thought that was hilarious! George spent most of his time there in a carrier, but he walked on his leash when it was his turn on the runway. First we looked at each other, sizing each other up.
Then we touched noses! Immediately after touching noses, we both hissed, causing our mommies to laugh. We were fine around the dogs, but didn't want to share the spotlight with another of our own species!







We don't remember the name of this little pup, but I hung out with her for a while. She wore two outfits in the show. Mommy liked this one, so she took a couple pictures of it.


















Showtime! There I am, being held by veterinarian Dr. Curtis Brandt. He and I are both in our rockstar outfits. Check out his pink-striped hair! We're just going up onto the stage here. We were the third pair to go onstage.







Mommy went upstairs to watch my part of the show. Here's a shot of the stage, right before they turned on the spotlights.







She got some video of my part, so we put that at the end of this post. When she came back downstairs, the goat was getting dressed!









There's the other cat, George, on the tv screen. They had a live feed set up, so we could watch the rest of the show from downstairs.



There were more models than that, but we couldn't get pictures of them all. There was also an intermission with an auction. It was all so fun, but I was glad when Mommy came back downstairs. Dr. Curtis had handed me to one of the volunteers, and I hugged her around the neck then lay in her arms until Mommy came for me. I hugged Mommy for a while, then sat behind her in the chair while she watched the rest of the show.

Here's the video of my part in the fashion show. The announcers are from Fox 12 Oregon.

Tabby's Fitting for the Fashion Show

My meeting and fitting went so well! When we first got to DoveLewis, we rode the elevator, which I don't really like but I put up with. Then, we stepped out of the elevator and saw Heather and Andy. Heather was watering plants, and said hi to us. Andy, a big black lab, came over to Mommy for pets, then went to sniff me in my stroller.

A few more people walked by when we were waiting, and I greeted them by looking at them and walking over to be petted. I also sat in the chair with Mommy, then got down and rolled over on the carpet for tummy rubs. I wanted to follow one lady into a conference room, but she wouldn't let me.

When the lady came to get us, I hopped down and walked with Mommy on my leash while she pushed the stroller. I walked partway, then wanted to go down the other hallway, so Mommy picked me up and carried me while the lady pushed the stroller.

I was fitted with a size large t-shirt. They used the ones from last summer's "Pets in the Pearl" fundraiser to do the sizes, but that's not what I'll really be wearing. When Mommy put the shirt on me, she could tell I loved the fit and fabric! I walked around the table a bit, then rolled over for tummy rubs. Everyone agreed I was being a little ham, loving all the attention (and the two cameras) focused on ME!

Then, I met the man who's going to walk with me down the runway. He learned how I like being held, and we practiced walking and showing off my outfit. He also spent some time petting me and talking with me, so that we could get comfortable working with each other.

My shirt for the fashion show will be something related to being a "rockstar chick". Dr. Brandt will be dressed in something "urban edgy New York rocker" style. Dr. Brandt's outfit will be from a shop called "Urban Edge".

Urban Edge
404 N.W, 10th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

My outfit will be from "bentley B".

The next thing...rehearsal and then the main event! The rehearsal will take place the day of, at 5:30 pm. The actual show is at 7:00 pm but doors open at 6:30.

I'm soooooo excited! Mommy gets a backstage pass, so she'll be there with me for everything except the actual runway walk. She's super-excited as well!

Press release and going Friday for my fitting/meeting my co-star

From the DoveLewis e-mail newsletter:

Buy your Tickets NOW for:

Boutiques Unleashed: Fashion for Both Ends of the Leash

Friday, March 13

Wonder Ballroom – 128 NE Russell, Portland

Doors open at 6:30PM. Fashion show starts at 8:00PM.

Local band Another Cynthia will begin playing at 9:30PM.


Join our presenting sponsor, Jeanette Heinz for DoveLewis’ 4th annual pet and person fashion show benefitting the DoveLewis Pet Loss Support program. Enjoy catering provided by Savor Catering and music from Area54 as local celebs walk adorable pets down the runway in the latest fashions from your favorite boutiques! Enjoy hosted hors d'oeuvres and select cocktails, bid on auction items, and don’t forget to wear something saucy!


Make sure to watch live on Fox12 KPTV next Wednesday morning to find out who our mystery model will be this year. Last year it was a llama...be sure to tune in for the big reveal!


Special thanks to Portland Picks and LexiDog for all of their enthusiastic assistance! Additional invaluable backstage support provided by Kalista Salon and Spa and The Blush Beauty Bar.

Tabby writes:

I'm going Friday to DoveLewis to meet my veterinarian co-star and get fitted for my outfit. Exciting!