Therapy dog helps residents at Monarch Landing

He suits up and comes to work for a traditional 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday shift.

He loves his job and takes it very seriously. Easily motivated by food, he especially loves bacon.

Journey, a 3-year-old German shepherd, chocolate lab and golden retriever mix, is a full-time therapy dog at Monarch Landing, a continuing care retirement community in Naperville.

Legally, Journey belongs to Melissa Hegg, human resources assistant at Monarch Landing. Emotionally, however, he belongs to all the residents of the retirement community who eagerly anticipate his visits each day.

"I take him home every night and weekends, but he works every second that I do," Hegg said.

Hegg, a 1-year employee of Monarch Landing, attended Bradley University in Peoria, where she volunteered with the campus group Wags for Mags, a branch of Paws Giving Independence. The Peoria-based service dog training organization used Bradley students to help train and acclimate prospective therapy dogs for their future work.

Journey had been a stray and was living in a shelter in the Northern suburbs when he was evaluated for potential therapy dog training.

Hegg fostered Journey during her senior year, teaching him skills such as obedience, switching lights on and off, tugging on door handles, picking up dropped items, helping pull off jackets and more.

Hegg brought Journey to Monarch Landing to visit and everyone immediately fell in love with the sweet animal.

"We decided to apply to Paws Giving Independence for a facility dog, which is a therapy dog that works in a specific location," Hegg said. "They knew that Journey would be well taken care of and of great service at Monarch Landing, so (they) approved the application."

Journey splits up his workday. He starts in the independent living community at Monarch Landing, where he hangs out with Hegg. In the afternoon, he heads over to health care at The Springs at Monarch Landing, where he visits residents in assisted living memory support, rehabilitation and skilled nursing.

While there, he is with Kylie Edmonds, the life-enrichment assistant.

"When he's with me, it takes twice as long to do things because we get stopped all of the time by residents who want to pet him," Edmonds said.

When Edmonds runs an activity, Journey joins her and accepts loving attention from residents. Edmonds also takes him on room visits, especially to those who are less inclined to join group activities.

"The residents get a lot of enjoyment from seeing him," she said.

The benefits of time with dogs are measurable, Hegg said.

"Our objective is to improve the lives of the residents. Medical studies show that petting dogs lowers blood pressure, improves mental well-being and brings great pleasure to individuals," she said.

Edmonds said Journey's presence is particularly beneficial to residents who might not have brought their dogs to live at Monarch Landing

"They miss having that animal companionship," she said.

While it's not unusual to have dogs visit retirement communities, a full-time therapy dog is unique.

"This is so much better," Edmonds said. "People feel that they have ownership in Journey as opposed to having random dogs come in and visit. And he knows the residents. They like being remembered and they feel ownership."

Journey appreciates knowing the residents in general, and has a decided preference for those he remembers have treats for him.

"There are residents who tend to stash their breakfast bacon for him," Edmonds said. "And he knows where different residents keep treats in their rooms. When he visits, he'll be polite and first greet the resident, but then head straight for their stash."

Hegg said that Journey's work vest, which identifies him as a therapy dog, determines his behavior.

"When his vest is off, he's a family pet. He's a dog and it's playtime. When the vest is on, he knows he's in work mode and he focuses," she said.

Journey seems grateful to have such a great job.

"Residents will always comment that he seems to be smiling. His tail is hardly ever down," Hegg said. "He gives so much love and gets so much love. There's not much more he can ask for."