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Happy Tails at Woodcrest Commons

March 9, 2020 (Henrietta, NY) ─ Greeting seniors, doing tricks and leaning in for hugs are just a few of the reasons Reese the therapy dog has become such a popular guest at Woodcrest Commons, a DePaul Senior Living Community in Henrietta.

Woodcrest Commons Pet Therapy
 

“It’s probably one of the most powerful things in the world,” Reese’s owner Kelly Pruden said of pet therapy. “There are no expectations from a dog. Reese wants to see you smile. You feel good petting him. There’s no stress when he comes in with a big smile on his face. It’s really special to see what he does.”

Pictured above with Reese are Woodcrest Commons residents Brenda Casey, Shirley Merton, Patricia Cooper and Rosa Rivera-Vargas.

Kelly Pruden has been doing pet therapy for many years at Woodcrest Commons, a picnic for children receiving treatment at Golisano Children’s Hospital, and even at area schools and colleges to help students with test jitters. She first got into doing pet therapy with her golden retriever Shamus who died of cancer last May, and now she’s continuing to do it with Reese, who is certified through Therapy Dogs International, Inc.

Woodcrest Commons Pet Therapy 2“When I see how people smile and relax, you just get that feel good boost,” said Pruden. “For selfish reasons, it’s good for me. I’ve had a lot of good things happen to me. This is my way of continuing to pay it forward.”

At home, Reese has earned the name devil dog because he’s very bouncy and he’s always getting into trouble. But once he’s got his therapy dog hat on, he’s a totally different dog, said Pruden.

“I think he enjoys it,” she said. “He feels good and it’s a task for him. He understands and connects with a lot of the folks there.”

 

Now that Reese is so well trained due to being a therapy dog, his nine-month-old fur brother Teegan has taken over the title of “devil dog” at home.

For more information about Woodcrest Commons, please contact Administrator Melissa Brien at (585) 334-1800, at mbrien@depaul.org or visit us on Facebook.