Cat joins therapy pet team

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By Karen Harrison Binette

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Hardy and his petmom, therapy pet coordinator Kaicee Robertson

 

Hardy was in rough shape when he came to the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA, in Charlottesville, Virginia last year. Now he is a healthy, happy 10 year old boy with a loving home and a new career as a therapy pet.

Hardy looked pretty ragged when he arrived at Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals nine months ago with matted fur, broken teeth and exposed pulp — the tissue inside his teeth. Other than a wonky ear that remains as a reminder of his past hardships, the fluffy Maine Coon and domestic longhair mix is a handsome and solid looking boy now.

He lucked out and found the purrfect position in life when he was adopted about three months ago by the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA’s pet therapy coordinator Kaicee Robertson and became the SPCA’s first therapy cat among about 20 dogs who make up the SPCA’s Pawsitive Pet Therapy teams. The teams visit a variety of places, including nursing homes, schools, and libraries. Each team is skilled and unique, and the SPCA says they’re lucky to have them.

Hardy and his owner Kaicee Robertson recently found out they passed their test to become an official therapy team, in December 2014. Now, they’re teaming up to go on nursing home visits and help with reading programs at libraries and schools.

“Well Hardy loves everyone. He loves kids and he loves seniors, so we’re really excited to visit as a team together,” said Robertson.

The SPCA says:  Hardy is the SPCA’s first therapy cat and he’s definitely up for all the fame and attention that comes along with the job. Hardy is a people cat and enjoys visiting anyone who’s willing to see him – he loves visiting seniors and children alike, and is a big fan of sitting on laps and cuddling. He loves people so much that he’s even been caught sneaking on empty elevators at the SPCA in hopes of ending up on a different floor and encountering a friend or two! He’s smart and brave, and oh-so funny!

Hardy’s favorite pastimes including pouncing after wand toys, lounging on laps, curling up on a soft bed, and being where the people are. He’s a wonderful personal assistant and can often be found following people around, talking to them about their day.

In his spare time, Hardy posed with fine jewelry and even modeled some for a fundraiser for the SPCA by local jeweler Reines Jewelers.

“He’s finally getting all the media attention he deserves,” Robertson joking told the Daily Progress, for a profile on the special cat.

SPCA director of marketing and development, Lisa Lane, spoke with the paper about the therapy pets’ nursing home visits: “They [residents] can’t bring their pets and they miss them,” Lane said. “It brightens their day.”

Therapy animals also have been proven to have health benefits, including lowering blood pressure, Lane added.

Hardy now helps children with their confidence and reading skills on his school and library visits. On a recent visit, a boy  read a book titled “How to Talk to Your Cat” to Hardy.

“[It’s easier to read to] a non-judgmental cat who doesn’t care if they mess up,” Robertson said.

In addition to its pet therapy program, the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA also provides low-cost microchips for pet parents, has a barn cat program, runs children’s camps where the kids learn to care for and about animals, operates a Rummage Store thrift shop, and helps local food pantries with pet food and supplies for families in need,

Lane told the paper that in 2015 she hopes to keep expanding the SPCA’s programs, but there’s always one overriding goal: “getting animals into homes.”

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Hardy hangs out with 10 year old Julia Wayne.

 
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Hardy helped raise funds for the SPCA in partnership with a local jeweler

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