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A Classy Mutt
Local Dog Volunteers to Help Others
 | | Gail Ball and KC. |
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By Jim Evans
According to his pedigree, “Kinda Cute” aka “KC” is just a mutt, but this mixed-breed Ramona canine is a purebred when it comes to his status as “man’s best friend.”
KC is a volunteer for the Rx Pets Program, the dog-assisted therapy and visitation program sponsored by the Palomar Pomerado Health Foundation.
“We’re guessing that KC is a cross between a golden retriever and a lab (labrador retriever) and is approximately 5 years old — maybe more,” owner Gail Ball, of Ramona, said of her loveable mutt.
“He was found running down San Vicente Road, and the (original) owner was eventually contacted, but he was a young gentleman who didn’t have the time to give to him or to take care of him.” So you might say KC is an orphan.
Ball recognized right away that KC has a special talent: He absolutely LOVES to be petted. It’s the perfect attribute for the RX Pets Program, in which children and adult patients bond with visiting pets.
“He has his own name badge and scarf,” Ball said, “and the doctors and nurses enjoy the visits as much, if not more, than the patients. Around the holidays, he wears a Santa hat, on St. Paddy’s Day he wore a green top hat — he’ll dress up in anything you put on him.”
Ball and KC try to visit patients at Pomerado Hospital two to three
times a month. “He is even allowed up on their beds if the patients invite him,” Ball said.
They have twice visited the first-graders at Children’s Montessori School in San Pasqual and, for the past 2 1/2 years, KC has been one of the “volunteers” at the St. Patrick’s Day party at the Adult Day Care Center in Ramona, representing the Soroptimist Club.
“It’s also great therapy for me, and it gives me a chance to leave my office and get away from the phones for an hour or two and do something for someone else,” said Ball, a Realtor who operates Gail Ball Real Estate Inc.
The RX Pets Program was founded more than 16 years ago by Shannon Schaefer, a certified canine behavioral specialist, and Dr. Doug Moir of Palomar Pomerado Health Foundation. It has helped thousands of patients through the years with the warmth and unique healing power of canine companionship.
But even KC’s winning personality was not enough in itself to qualify for his participation in the RX Pet Program.
“Because we are working in a medical environment — sometimes with patients in acute care — we must meet stringent health and behavioral standards,” Schaefer said. “All of our dogs must be obedience-trained and evaluated for their behavior and suitability for interacting with patients, but equally important, they must be checked by our veterinarians at least every six months (including fecal cultures) so that we do not compromise the health of the patients. We are grateful to the volunteer veterinarians who have donated their time and professional skills to our program.”
As for KC, he plans to continue volunteering. After all, what else could he do that would garner so many hugs?
“KC loves what he does — he’s a friend to everyone,” Ball said.
For more information about RX Pets, call (760) 745-1011.
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