Upcoming Events

May 11th Loveland Elementary School Science Fair Contact Glenna Mockbee for more information.
May 20th Member Luncheon 10-4 pm  At Bethesda North Hospital. More details to come.
May 31st University of Cincinnati
Final Exam Stress Relief 11 am - 1 pm
Contact John Wallace for more information .
June 10th Testing at Bethesda North Hospital. Contact Elaine Waxler for scheduling.
June 17th Board of Directors Meeting 1 pm  At Bethesda North Hospital.

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Member Profiles

Amy Hudoba and Sparky

I was unaware of pet therapy programs at the time of my retirement which was at the time Sparky came into our lives at the age of eight weeks. While I was visiting a friend at Jewish Hospital, a Pet Partners team came to visit her, and we witnessed firsthand the difference a pet can make to someone who is ill. Our friend’s day was totally brightened by this visit. So, it was upward and onward for my planning to get Sparky trained and certified by his first birthday so we could visit and make a difference….unconditional love.

Sparky, a seven- and-a-half year -old Bedlington Terrier, has proven himself to be a caring companion.  He earned the Canine Good Citizen Award in December 2003, was certified to be a therapy dog in April 2004, honored by the American Kennel Club in 2005 for “Canine Excellence in the Service of Mankind,” and certified for R.E.A.D. (Reading, Education, Assistance Dog) in March 2006.

We’ve been doing pet therapy for over seven years, visiting the sick, dying, elderly, pre-schools, elementary schools, and participating in numerous Therapy Pets of Greater Cincinnati events.  We currently are involved with the Pages 'N Paws. program at Western Row Elementary School each month of the school year. We’ve also participated in the Blue Ash Memorial Day parades and Indian Hill Fourth of July parades.

Sparky’s lamb-like appearance initially endears people to him; his soft coat, once likened to cotton candy by a patient at Ronald McDonald House, is also an immediate attraction, as are an inviting smile and welcoming eyes.  A Hospice of Cincinnati nurse (Blue Ash Inpatient Unit) comments that from Sparky she has learned the “value of just offering a patient a hand to hold.”

Sparky brings joy not only to patients but also to families, visitors and staff at Shriners Hospital for Children, Ronald McDonald House, Children’s Hospital, Christ Hospital, Hospice of Cincinnati Inpatient Unit-Blue Ash, Bethesda North Hospital, and Meadowbrook.  He has also visited Carriage Court and Brookwood.  He loves people of all ages.

We continue to have the privilege and honor of meeting wonderful families, making a difference and making fond memories. One patient shared, ”Tell Doc I don’t need any medicine today as I’ve just had the best medicine ever,” during our visit. We are blessed beyond words in some way at every visit and have an unending passion and love for what we do. Neither of us knows a stranger.

TPGC is a wonderful way of expressing unconditional love to all.