第1章狗狗们的心事（1）
宠物治疗
&enMinutes
佚名Anonymous
OnMotwoo'clock，BeauandIwouldarriveattheSilverSpriilwaukee'ssideoftownforanhourofpettherapywiththeseniorswholivedthere。We'dwalkthehallwaysgreetingeveryoneonourwaytothehospitalityroom，whereresidentswouldetopetBeauandbaskiionofthisbeautiful，happy，ten-year-old，y-nine-poundDobermanpinscher。You'dhiswasthesamedogthatarrivedatmydhtyearsearliersobeaten，sdscaredthatassoonashemadeeyetactwithyou，he'dliedownonhisbackwithhisfeetupintheairailyoupettedaofeelingsafe。
Onourfirstvisit，aswewalkedthroughtheary-yellowHallwayOne，Iheardanelderlyman'sexcitedvoice，thickwithaGermareamingoutofroom112。"Ma，Ma，theGermandermandogishere！"
NosoonerdidIhearthevoiawrinkle-faced，six-foot-tall，ogostiaingusatthedoor，swoopinghisbig，openhandandstrongarmacrossthedoorway，invitingusin，"I'mCharlie。Thisismywife，Emma。ei;
WhenBeauheardCharlie'sfrieicvoitirebodywentintohisarywaggingfrenzyandleanagainstyhposition，waitingforapetting，whichwasimmediatelyffromCharlie。Aswewalkedintotheroom，afrailbutlivelyeighty，violet-hairedEmmasatinbed，smiling，pattingherhandonthebed。AllshehadtodoatondBeau，leashedandalwaysobedient，onthebedlyingdownbesideher，ligherface。HereyeswerefulloftearsasCharlietoldusthatheandEmmahadimmigratedtotheUesfromGermanyduringWorldWarIIandhadtoleavetheirbelovedDoberman，Max，behind。Max，agtoCharlie，ittingimageofBeau。
&door，room114，washometoKatherine，awomaiesedtalkingforafewmonthsearlierandhadbeenlivinginaiherwheelchairforthepastmonth。Noamoualkinghadbeeirher。WhenBeauaoherroom，asmalllightwasooherbedandtheshadeswerepulled。Shewassittinginherwheelchair，herbacktowardus，slouchedthevie。
Beauullingaheadofmewithhisleash。BeforeIcouldgetaroundkneelingdowninfrontofher，hewasatherleftside，withhisheadinherlap。Ipulledachairupinfrodownandsaidhello。NorespohefifteeBeauandIsatwithKatherine，sheneversaidawordandnevermasthatmaybe，mwasthatBeauher。Hestoodtheeeenminutes，hislonherlap。
IfyouknewBeau，you'dkensedswasaoetting。Nothere。HewasasfrozenasKatherine，headgluedtoherlap。Ibefortablewiththelackoflifeinthiswomaheed2：30p。m。，Irushedtosaygood-bye，stoodupaherelutBeauout。
Iaskedoheheriatonic。"Wedon'tknowwhy。Sometimesitjusthappenswhenelderlypeoplehavefamilywhoshowhem。Wejusttrytomakeherasfortableaspossible。"
Allthewonderfulpeopleandanimalswhoblessedmylifeflashedinfrontofmyeyes，aheyweregoIimagibefeeliandfotten。Iwasdetermiofindawaythroughtoher。
EveryMoer，BeauandImadeourroualityroom，stoppingtomakespecialvisitsinroom112tovisitdEmma，andinroom114tositwithKatherine。Alwaysthesameresponse—CharliewavingusiiingforBeau'slicks，bothsoalive。AoKatheriiely，nosigforhershall。
&Iattemptedtoeherineiion。Noresponse。IgrewmoreaedwithKatheritwithjust"being"withher。YetherewasBeau，meditativedog，teagmehowto"be"aly，assuming"theposition"forthefifteeateachvisit。
Onourfourthvisit，IassKatherine'sroom，butBeauhadotherplans。HepulledmeintoKatherine'sroomandtookhisfamiliarposeoside，headonlap。Iacquiesced，butsinceIhadabusierihreoccupied，IdecidedtocutshortourusualfifteehKatherieadoftalking，Iremai，fowardlyonmyupeeting。Surelyshe'diceorcare。AsIstooduptowalkoutaopullBeauaway，hewouldn'tbudge。
Ahemostmiraculousthiherine'shaothetopofBeau'sheadahere。Noothermovement，justherhand。InsteadofBeau'saryresponseofnosenuzzlingandincreasedbodywaggiiaue，nevermovingfromhisspot。
Isatbasilentshodfortheenpreinutes，reveledireamoflifeflowiherine'shandandBeau'shead。Astheedhalf-pasttwtheendofourfifteeherine'shalyslidbatoherlap，aurowalkoutofthedoor。