Recent weeks have found my father’s health failing, currently he is in hospital, and on Monday the outlook was quite dim. Tuesday the hospital rang, just after 9am, to request that I take Liquorice and Keaton over to visit with “Arthur” (Dad and I share the same name), naturally I said yes and, fearing it would be an “emergency dash”, hesitantly asked “when?” It was a relieved me when they asked if 2 o’clock would be convenient. The nurse said that it would be but a brief visit, probably two minutes, and that she would organize the necessary clearances. She called back an hour and a half later to confirm that all was in order.
Dogs visiting patients in hospitals Downunder, especially in this area, are a rarity – and the “event” was quite an experience!
We arrived and I went to the inquiry counter, encased in glass for security, stating why I was there. The lady knew all about “Liquorice and Keaton” and immediately thanked me for bringing the pups over, told me that everything has been cleared – then she sighted Liquorice and Keaton and fell in love with them!
We walked to the elevator as one of the hospital clerical staff was getting in, so I offered to take the next one lest she feel uneasy sharing a lift with our oversized puppers. She stepped back telling me to enter first as they have been expecting “Liquorice and Keaton”!
Liquorice has been in elevators previously but for Keaton it was a first. He entered, did a 180-degree turn, mimicking his Dad’s turn, then promptly laid down! The lass in the lift commented that, “Arthur will be so pleased” and thanked me for bringing them in! She allowed the VIPs (Very Important Puppers) to exit the lift first and followed me along an overly long passageway toward Dad’s ward.
Two of the catering staff were having a break further along and a voice from behind me called out, “Look who I’ve found!” Both catering staff looked up excited, amazed at the sight they saw, then one said, “I want to see Arthur’s face when “Liquorice and Keaton” find him!” They followed too.
From various offices, rooms and passageways joining this long passageway heads popped out with dumbfounded expressions and making amazed comments – referring to the pups as “Arthur’s dogs” or by name, “Liquorice and Keaton”.
Everyone seemed to “know” Liquorice and Keaton! And everyone seemed to follow us too! I felt like the Pied Piper of Hamelin!
And those trailing behind “Arthur’s dogs” were making quite a commotion as we walked along! Another throng of assorted staff had congregated at the end of the passageway, all in awe of my little darlings and making all the usual comments, but the overwhelming theme was “how happy Arthur will be to see his puppies”! I was feeling embarrassed with all the attention that Liquorice and Keaton’s presence had generated.
There was real excitement in the air!
And I was shocked at the number of people who knew Liquorice and Keaton by sight and name! But than I had noted the previous day that Dad’s envelope of photographs were becoming “worn” having been shared about so often.
Some of the people, at the end of the long passageway, stepped back allowing Liquorice and Keaton to proceed unhindered then followed. The others had walked on ahead knowing our destination and wanting to see “Arthur’s face light up” – which it did! :-))))))))))))))))))))))
About 8 people walked into Dad’s 4-bed ward ahead of Liquorice and Keaton, with another 20 or more following on behind! Dad was sitting in chair next to his bed.
Liquorice “knowingly” walked straight up to him, stopping 8 inches from Dad allowing Dad to greet Liquorice at his pace! Keaton wanted to greet Dad as well, but I touched Keaton’s rump, which had the little fellow sit instantly. When Liquorice had greeted Dad, to the oohs and ahs of the still-growing audience, I motioned for Keaton to say hello. Well Keaton thoroughly washed Dad’s face and surprisingly did not dislodge Dad’s oxygen tubes!
Everyone was so happy, especially Dad – and his “dogs”!
Liquorice lay contentedly at Dad’s feet. Keaton sprawled himself out comfortably in the passageway into the ward. Then all the questions and comments flowed freely as our audience chatted to each other. There was even a person who had a video camera taping “Arthur and his dogs”! More people appeared as some drifted off back to their more mundane work, but it was standing room only around “Liquorice and Keaton”! Liquorice was thoroughly content staying with Dad. Keaton, well Keaton was perfect! The young master worked the crowd to perfection! And he took his cues from my subtly motioning with my index finger – and without any training either!
I’d raise the end of my index finger; Keaton would sit up. I’d point to one of the many people speaking, while making some distracting comment, and Keaton would swivel around on his rump to the “nominated” soul and bestow upon that honored individual the biggest, happiest smile that ever a Newfoundland could offer. And everyone would ooh and ah afresh! Discreetly pointing to the ground, Keaton would resume his blanket-like coverage of the floor until again summoned. The crowd of people ebbed and flowed, and oohed and ahhed continuously.
A pair of nurses on the inside started giggling, and when mirth abated one said, “Doctor so-and-so just walked by, stopped and stared at Arthur’s dogs” then she mimicked the stunned open-mouthed expression on the doctor’s face!
Once, the throng parted to reveal a tall dour-faced doctor who stopped at Keaton and looked down at the young master. After a moment’s study, his observation was “It’s a carpet”! He then tried to maneuver past along the limited space that Keaton had left in the passageway. When I went to slide Keaton over to allow more space, the doctor held up his hand saying in a somber tone, “Leave him be. This is wonderful therapy. There should be more of it!”
I commented to one nurse that I didn’t know that there were so many people working on this floor. She said simply, “Oh, they’re coming up from other floors too!”
Bernadette, the head nurse, one of the ones from whom permission was sought, walked in and stood next to Liquorice and Keaton sprawled out on the floor – and appeared dumbfounded! When words came, Bernadette said in slow unbelieving tones, “They told me they were “puppies”, little dogs this big!” holding her palms apart with her thumbs touching.
Often I would suggest to a nurse that the pups and I should not overstay our welcome, only to be told to stay! Our “two-minute visit” with Dad lasted over an hour!
One time I said “Be seated” to my Landseer boy, a request with which he promptly complied to more oohs and ahs. An older nurse stated that, “they are definitely spoilt!” That brought forth my usual polite reply, “Liquorice and Keaton receive nothing of which they are not thoroughly deserving”.
We visited with some other patients before leaving, and making our way out of the building was a long slow process with patients and visitors wanting introductions, and questions answered. Don’t know why “introductions” were needed as by this stage Liquorice and Keaton were wearing their bibs on which their names were boldly embroidered. My little darlings never drooled, but after a time “dewdrops” dripped from Keaton’s tongue landing where he would rest his massive head when next he laid down. So Keaton then wore his bib, and Liquorice too. I told our “audience” that this is what they wear on formal occasions!
Back on the ground floor a security guard stopped us and wanted to know all about Newfoundlands! The glass enclosure of the inquiry desk was in view. There are apparently offices behind the reception area for the “glass enclosure” quickly filled with a crowd of clerical staff all looking and pointing at Liquorice and Keaton! The glass enclosure looked like a fish bowl with all the residents peering out!
Eventually we “escaped” and I walked Liquorice and Keaton back to the carpark in the rain, it was only “spitting” when we arrived. Passing a bus stop near the main entrance a couple with a little child stopped us asking if Liquorice and Keaton were “New England” dogs. Their rugrat was all decked out in his brightly colored wet weather gear. He looked up at Keaton, then Liquorice, then walked around in front of Liquorice and looked her in the eye, for which Liquorice obligingly lowered her head. Then this tiny tot slowly walked to Liquorice’s rear end, carefully examining her as he went. For one of this “rugrat’s” size, walking along Liquorice takes many steps! He returned, walking slightly stooped giving the appearance of an “old man”, and stopped in front of Liquorice again. This “ankle-biter” seemed puzzled. He knew that Liquorice and Keaton were canines, only he appeared unsure whether my little darlings were “super-sized” or he had shrunk!
Liquorice was relaxed and happy upon our return home. Keaton was relaxed but was clearly pondering the day’s events. After a time I raised his heavy head in my hands and peered into his soft trusting eyes. I told the little fellow, “If you want to know what you did today, then know that you did good!” and gave my boy the loving cuddle he so thoroughly deserved. I am so proud of them both!
According to “witnesses” later, Dad improved greatly once he knew that Liquorice and Keaton were to visit, and kept on improving too! They also noted that Dad spent the hours before our arrival staring at the clock! Dad had some color back, and was breathing more easily than the previous distressing day and noticeably improved during Liquorice and Keaton’s time with him, and while the outlook is still not good, Dad continues to improve slowly thanks to the medicinal powers of a “Newfie fix”!
Arthur Witten
Liquorice – No one has feet as comfortable as my granddad’s tootsies to lie on!
Keaton – When can we return????