Mount Pleasant Pets 2017

15 www.MountPleasant.pet | www.MPVets.pet | www.MTPleasant.pet G U I D E Walking into Realtor Ann Whalen’s office, I’m greeted by Nimitz – a 4-and-a-half-year-old English cream golden retriever with the kind of chocolate-brown eyes that make you melt like a popsicle left on a Lowcountry dock. He doesn’t bark, dart toward me or jump to make my acquain- tance but rather saunters over to the door and gazes out the window to calmly take in the sight of geese congregating by a nearby pond. I can tell by his demeanor he’s enjoying the view. While other dogs may have let out a howl and doused the door with drool in an attempt to make their way out to the feathered flock, he sits and stares – perhaps daydream- ing of long rides in the family golf cart. “He didn’t pass puppy training,” recalled Whalen, his owner. “If the pack went left, he went right.” Despite his rebel spirit – apparent from birth – Nimitz has transformed into one of the top therapy dogs in the region. On one occasion, he didn’t even flinch when faced with the weight of a walker on top of his tender tail. “You just have a purpose when you have a dog,” said Whalen. “Nimitz is so loving. Keeping up with his schedule and working can be a lot. Some days, he seems to be busier than me.” Whether he’s visiting folks at the senior center or leaving neighbors in a state of glee, Nimitz’s very presence seems to offer a sense of relief and tranquility. This therapy dog even provides camaraderie for a cat, Meezer, that shares his Awendaw home. This summer, Nimitz will have the opportunity to play alongside some truly exceptional kids at Camp Rise Above – a program held at James Island County Park for those dealing with everything from brain tumors to sickle cell anemia. The camp is broken down into seven sessions of two full days, each catering to a different group of campers with a specific condition. Participants will stretch their cre- ativity with arts and crafts and build strength in the water with paddle boarding sessions. They will also get the oppor- tunity to meet amazing canines like the endearing Nimitz. “We are very excited about this opportunity,” said Wha- len, who spent years working with children at a similar sleep-away camp in North Carolina. “We hope to one day get him into a program at MUSC Children’s Hospital.” He already visits hospice every week and brings a bit of cheer to patients and family members during the most stressful times of their lives. “He goes to each room and rests his head on the patient’s bed,” said Whalen. Recently, while visiting with an Alzheimer's patient, Nim- itz’s presence jolted his memory. A veteran, the man became lucid, carried on conversations and even commented on the fact that Nimitz’s namesake was an esteemed fleet admiral who fought in WW 11. “When I put his therapy collar on, he is a totally different dog,” said Whalen, who brings Nimitz to a refresher course at Alpha Dog Training every six months. “He knows it’s time to go to work.”