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POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — When Bocce, a 4-year-old Labrador retriever, walks onto the Community Living Center unit at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, all eyes instantly focus on her. As

she goes from room to room and down each hallway, she’s the center of attention. Bocce, a certified therapy dog, visits the nursing home residents of the Poplar Bluff campus weekly alongside

her handler, Gabe Thompson, bringing out smiles, laughs, and sometimes even a few stories from yesteryear. The therapy dog program began at the facility about 2 years ago, Thompson noted,

and has become a bright spot on the activity calendar each week. “Overall, I think the patients really enjoy her, and the staff looks forward to seeing her,” explained Thompson, who works as

a counselor for the Poplar Bluff school district. “It gives them something to look forward to, and they seem to really enjoy her visits, even though they’re brief.” Samantha Parsley, a

recreation therapist on the Community Living Center unit, agreed, saying the weekly visits bring the residents not only joy, but a connection they otherwise might not get. “They know exactly

what day she will be coming and will do everything in their power to make sure they are here,” she said. “Being in a nursing home all the time … even getting that tactile aspect of petting

and feeling and her licking them … it’s very important.” The visits also help patients in ways they may not even realize, she said, subtly improving their physical range of motion and

“getting them involved in socializing with somebody that’s not part of the staff.” “I always try to ask the guys how they’re doing and have a conversation with them,” added Thompson. “They

enjoy telling me about dogs they’ve had or their stories. I’m sure it’s good for them to have those conversations they may not have otherwise had.” Plus, he surmised, seeing a dog in a

hospital environment “makes it feel more like home instead of a hospital.” The residents, however, aren’t the only ones who look forward to Bocce’s visits. “The staff light up just as much

as the Veterans light up, and it boosts the overall mood on the whole unit,” Parsley said. “She’s such a positive light when she visits, and she gives us a break we didn’t even know we

needed.” Now, with summer approaching and schools dismissing later this month, Parsley said, the residents understand Bocce won’t be able to visit as much as normal, but she has plenty in

store to keep their time occupied. And, Thompson said, he and Bocce will be back on their regular schedule in no time. “As long as they’ll have us, we’ll keep coming,” he said. For more

information about this and other programs and services available to Veterans at the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, call 573-686-4151 or go online to 

https://www.va.gov/poplar-bluff-health-care/.