Spreading The Word As members of Canines 4 Christ, Tom & Cheryl Reynolds of Nottoway County and their poodles, Ash and Grace, regularly visit Piedmont Geriatric Hospital, Central State Hospital, and Hickory Hill Retirement Community. Photo by Tomi Woodward
THEIR GROWING MINISTRY IS WELL-RECEIVED
Canines 4 Christ is a nonprofit based in Pleasonton, Texas.
Its mission: “To have the love of Christ shine through us and our canines as His disciples by providing a ministry of presence that actively engages with people who need the love, hope and compassion that only God’s message can provide.”
For the past few years, Cheryl and Tom Reynolds of Nottoway County have been visiting places like Central State Hospital, Hickory Hill Retirement Community, and Piedmont Geriatric Hospital, taking their beautifully-trained Standard Poodles with them.
They visit once a month, socialize with residents and staff, and spread the word of God for those who are interested.
Piedmont offers mental health services and programs to those over 65, who come from all over, helping them to move back into the community eventually. They are also a respected training facility for geopsychiatry.
After having visited the hospital with Tom & Cheryl and their dogs, I realized this is one of those missions where we all benefit as much as those we are trying to help.
Says Mrs. Reynolds: “For us, the dogs open the doorway, and we walk through and do what the patients want to do. Our rewards are numerous.”
It all started when Mrs. Reynolds, who is a certified trainer and breeder, had a Standard Poodle years ago and realized she could be a service dog. As time passed, her outreach and number of dogs grew, and she wanted to help more somehow.
Cheryl prayed to God for an answer. When she went on the internet, the first group she read about was Canines 4 Christ, started by a group of ministers in 2007 that now has representatives in Africa, South America, and 1,200 members in 38 states in the U.S. They are AKC-recognized and have a strict vetting process, which makes sense.
Tom & Cheryl have nothing but respect for the residents, and they minister only if someone reaches out. They bring pamphlets to hand out and have a group prayer at the end of each visit in the wards. Cheryl mentions that most of the patients she talks to are prayer-driven.
Mrs. Tylea Boyd, the Volunteer Services Coordinator at Piedmont, speaks very highly of the program and its impact. The residents always know when the dogs are coming, and the day I attended, we had an excellent turnout on each floor. (The visit takes about 2 ½ hours.)
“Their impact is always positive,” says Mrs. Boyd, “and it can change a mood for a day or an hour.” She also stressed the good influence of interacting with members of the community. Those living at a place like this may talk about the gettogether for a number of days.
According to a hand-out from Canines 4 Christ, there are many benefits from interacting with service dogs: Stress, loneliness, and anxiety are reduced; hormones such as oxytocin are released which makes people feel better. These visits also can lower heart rates and blood pressure and distract someone from any pain they are experiencing.
Just think how you feel when you pet and relax with your dog or cat. Immediate peace.
Sometimes it’s the small things in life which mean so much, and I was reminded of that on the day I visited the hospital.
To see the residents so engaged — petting the dogs as we talked and told stories about the pets we once had, traded jokes, and complained about the weather — was moving.
I was also touched by how well the staff interacted with everyone. It was such a warm environment, I felt like I was at a family reunion.
For those interested in getting more involved, please visit: https://k9forchrist.org.
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