‘They bring so much joy’
Therapy dogs offer hugs, support to passersby at Mel Lastman Square
Therapy dogs visit Mel Lastman Square to provide comfort to people in the area,
Mel Lastman Square was filled with therapy dogs from St. John’s Ambulance on Thursday morning, offering comfort to passersby.
For Marjan Iravani, it was an antidote — a moment to let her emotions bubble up, after days thinking about the moment she stepped outside on Yonge near her home on Olive St. and saw a body on the ground. She thought it was an accident. Then she saw more.
Iravani had tears in her eyes as she stroked and clung to Buddy, a nearly 2-year-old golden retriever whose tail wagged at the squeals and cuddles from people walking in the square, just south of Park Home Ave. This is Buddy’s job, and he’s been doing it for a year now.
“I felt so bad after the accident. It got worse day by day,” Iravani said.
But sitting quietly, with a hand on one of the nearly 20 dogs in the square, gave her some peace. “I think they do an amazing job,” she said. “Thank you for all of their help. Thank you so much.”
Judy Rateau, who works at the nearby Toronto District School Board office and was in the area Monday, sat with Iravani. The two women chatted about simple things — how sweet the dogs were, how much it helped. The dogs helped heal the shock of what happened, Rateau said, by offering a distraction.
“To just forget, or just to not be reliving this incident for a few minutes,” Rateau said. “This helps actually, so we can think of something else.”
Irka Skrtic with St. John’s Ambulance said they had 15 dogs signed up for Thursday, but that more had shown up — they’ve seen an increase in a desire to volunteer all across the board.
When the employees at the nearby civic centre heard about the visitors, they all rushed outside, administrative assistant Emily Greco said. She sat happily, petting a pup named Dex-
“Thank you for all of their help. Thank you so much.” MARJAN IRAVANI ON THE THERAPY DOGS THAT VISITED MEL LASTMAN SQUARE
ter while similar scenes played out around her.
Yonge St. had been “quite sombre” since Monday, she said. “Bringing these dogs in is so therapeutic,” Greco said. “They bring so much joy to a community that’s at present time grieving.”
Barbara Ruhr, Buddy’s handler, has another dog named Charley, who just turned 12. He’s been working as a therapy dog for much longer than Buddy has. Ruhr’s dogs work anywhere from spaces with the sick, elderly or lonely to children’s rehabilitation facilities.
Sometimes, she said, people want to chat with her while they visit with Buddy or Charley. Other times, people want silent, loving and non-judgmental comfort. “There are no words, because dogs communicate in non-verbal ways,” she said. “And they assume a lot of the stress. That’s why we have to be really careful with our dogs not to overwork them.” Another handler, Linda Sleigh, watched as her rescue Yorkie-Shi Tzu, Benji, greeted visitors in the square. Benji visits seniors every Tuesday, and has for three years. He also sits with special needs students in Grade 2, while they read.
Sleigh said she was often asked what Benji’s job was, exactly — and how she knew if he was doing it right. “And I say to them, ‘you’re smiling. He’s doing his job.’ ”
The dogs will be back in the square Friday at 11 a.m.
Earlier Thursday morning, the square was filled with the echo of kids’ voices. Students in Grade 6, 7 and 8 at nearby St. Edward Catholic School — where a teacher lost her sister to the crash — stood solemnly in front of a pile of flowers and tributes.
They sang the prayer of St. Francis: “Make me a channel of your peace; where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope. Where there is darkness, only light. And where there’s sadness, ever joy.”
Anne Marie D’Amico, sister of Grade 7 teacher Frances D’Amico, was one of the 10 people killed in the deadly van rampage down Yonge St. on Monday. Her class was among the crowd of students singing.
“We want to share the message of kindness,” teacher Laura Novello said.