Abba Daddy and Mr. Bob
 

Some of our Yorkies are therapy dogs they smell when a patient is sick, sad, over medicated and even dying. The probably know exactly what they had for breakfast, how long ago they voided their bladder, if they are hot or cold and much, much more.

We were visiting patients who were in Hospice. Some patients were sitting in wheel chairs on lounging on the sofa and chairs in the sun room chatting. We made a stop so people could pat Abba and tell us their stories about their dogs. Everyone was smiling, by the time When we took our visiting list and started to do our room visits. We visited a chatty lady and a charming fellow who played the harmonica for us. I thought our visits were done. But, Abba went the wrong way, I was about to call him back when he went into a room.

I followed him into a room that was not on our visiting list. I ask the man in the bed if he wanted a doggy visit and he nodded. He weakly patted the bed with a shaking hand. I put down a towel and lifted Abba up onto the bed. He gently snuggled the old gentleman’s hand. I glanced at the chart ,his name was Robert. He stoked Abba’s silky fur with closed eyes and seemed to drift off sleep with a sigh. A tear slid down his cheek and I dabbed it with a tissue I sat there quietly for about 20 minuets. I could visibly see his arthritic body relax. After a little bit Abba lifted his head and slid out from under Bob's limp hand. He walked softly to the old mans cheek and gave him a delicate good bye kiss. I realized the man had stopped breathing. I scooped Abba up, closed the door, and went down the hall the nurses station. It was a gentle loving good bye for Robert. No more dialysis, chemo therapy or pain, just peace.

How did Abba know ? His nose told his heart.

Amazing. You're story has me in tears. I so wish everyone could know that at the end.

Wow, that is so awesome!! Dogs are just amazing with what they can sense and how they respond. Very nice last moment for the man.

Ok I am tearing up reading this. Your dog is so amazing and special and so are you to go visit the people who are in this condition. I would love to learn how you went about getting involved with this, with getting them trained as therapy dogs. Could you please pm me?

Your Abba is a special boy like his mom. Your beautiful account of Bob's last moments is very touching.

Oh, wow, tears. :( What a beautiful story.

Thank you. You inspired me today.

Geeze.. thanks alot... I'm tearing up at work. -_-;

Thank you for sharing your story. Also, I admire that you volunteer your time and energy to share your yorkie to those that need them the most...

That was a very touching story and brought tears. It's amazing how Abba knew to go into that particular room. It was what Bob needed at that very moment. It brought him peace and he didn't die alone. Thank you for sharing.

What a wonderful thing you and Abba are doing. Abba helped Robert go to the other side peacefully. Thank you for sharing

I'm in tears after reading that. Dogs are so awesome. Roberts name may not have been on the list,but Abba knew he was there. You're are a special person to do what you do. May God Bless You and Abba.

This story made me cry. My DH and I have been working with ours to try to get them certified so we can visit the nursing homes with them. We feel it is a calling and hope that when our times come someone could be there for us like this also. God bless you for being there for those people in their last days and making them happy. You are such an inspiration to us all.

So sweet thank you soooo much for sharing.

Oh my....so Abba went totally the RIGHT way....

Such a wonderful, heartwarming, tear-jerking tale - what a brilliant little boy your Abba is....how we all wish we could have an Abba in our lives at THAT time.

God bless you Teresa, for all you do :) Love and a hug, Sally x

Absolutely beautiful... Thank you for sharing the story of this gentleman's passing and your sweet Abba. Made me cry.

Beautiful, just beautiful. I am crying from how sweet that was, do you mind if I share your post on Facebook? This is is just too sweet not too but I want your permission first.

Thank you so much. That's all I can say. You and Abba are special.

Thank you for sharing this very sweet story. So happy that you and Abba were there for comfort so he did not cross over alone.

You have my permission to reprint the story. Hugs Teresa

Teresa, what an amazing service you and your pup give. If I could hug you both, I would.

As to your question...I recently watched a show about this very topic. Dogs can really sense chemical oddities in the human body. On that show, one dog led the owner to be checked for breast cancer. Even though a recent mammogram and then a new one showed nothing. Upon doing surgery, the cancer was found, removed, and saved the woman's life.

Another found a man in serious depression...he had lost all. That dog soon gave the man his first smile in many years.

Another dog was trained to alert a diabetic when sugar levels dropped.

God's wonderful creatures are so awe inspiring and amazing.

Who knows if Abba sensed something or if God just guided him where he was needed? Either way, it was a miracle event and one that you will always carry.

And now...so will we.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Bob.

What a wonderful and touching story of Roberts passing. You and your Abby truly made his last moments on this earth ones worth living by knowing there was a pup and his owner who cared enough to share this moment with him.

Such a special thing you and your pup do, its very inspiring ! :)

As I slowly wipe away my tears...What a beautiful story, this touched me so. May Mr Bob rest now in peaceful sleep. Abba made those last few minutes for him a heaven on earth. May you and Abba be blessed in life, thank you both from the bottom of my heart for what you do, how you do it and last, but not least when you do it.

What an amazing little boy he is to bring peace to an elderly man in his final minutes. I'm sure glad I'm at home because this made me cry!!!

Beautiful

tears here as well, Abba seems like a such a gentle dog and the perfect dog for that type of setting. I am curious have you been able to talk to the man's family. I bet they would love to talk to you and hear how peaceful his death was.

What a lovely way for a sick man to pass on - with his hand on a precious dog and a kind lady nearby. Thank goodness he didn't leave this world alone and had two caring individuals - one canine - sitting right with him all the way out when he was his most vulnerable and having his last moments and thoughts. We should all be so fortunate to have such a gentle and sweet, loving attendance at our own passing from this life. Thank you, Teresa. Thank you, Abba. Robert, R.I.P.

I keep thinking about this story and how much it touched me. I just told my husband about it, and I can not believe this but he started crying, really crying. in 25 years I have seen him cry only two or three times, but this story touched him also. We do not have children so I think in the back of both of our minds is who will be there for us in the end, we love Lola like she is our child so the thought of a little furbut close at hand would be comforting for us. Lola and I visit a nursing home but she is so hyper they just watch her twirl and spin and run for her toys, they love it, and it is cute seeing them try to bend down to pick up her toy. but she is not the cuddly type, and does not lay on their beds, hopefully in years to come she will slow down a little.

I too have shared this story with my friends and loved ones, it has renewed my faith in my fur child...I also have no skin children, so it touched my heart in a way nothing else has touched me. The thought of being alone the last moments on earth is frightening...I hope I have an Abba at my side. Please keep doing what you're doing, Bob passed from this world with a friend, how precious is that?

Thank you for allowing me to post this on facebook! The people who commented on the post said that it was a beautiful story, that Abba is a very special dog and you are a wonderful person :)

I also posted it on FB, many people that never comment posted to say how it touched them and I have had more shares that anything I had ever posted. When you started this thread I bet you did not realize how many people this story would touch, thanks again for sharing it with us, and allowing us to share it with others