Malvern Treatment Centers would like you to join in a warm welcome to our newest member! We have the great pleasure of having Rommel, a rescue from Pennsylvania, as our therapy dog.
Rommel was adopted on April 20, 2013 from Pennsylvania Great Dane Rescue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was 3.5 years of age when adopted and was surrendered to the rescue because he was abused and mistreated ever since he was a puppy.
From the day that Rommel was rescued, he was socialized with other animals and people by trips to local dog parks, shopping, hiking, etc. Through that socialization, Rommel showed he had the qualities to become a great companion. Rommel is a skilled dog and in his short time with his owner, he has built an unbreakable bond.
Rommel’s love and affection towards people is unbelievable even after all the bad experiences he has been through. His owner recognized that Rommel had a very special talent and decided to have him evaluated to see if he would be a candidate to be a therapy dog. Rommel took the hour and a half test, which tests the dog on different levels and requires over 10 actions in order to pass. It was no surprise that Rommel passed with flying colors!
The owner can speak from personal experience that recovery does work…
“Life does get so much better without medicating yourself, and to have Rommel there to help them relax and to forget about things for a while, or even a brief moment, can be a wonderful thing. The first day Rommel and I came to Malvern… a young girl in her early 20s was looking down at Rommel and petting his back, not really looking at me as she was talking, and as she was looking at Rommel she asked, ‘What does he do that’s therapeutic?’ I responded back, ‘I bet you forgot where you were and why you were here for a brief moment.’ The next thing, she finally looked up at me, and she had the biggest smile on her face, I knew at that moment that this was what it was all about to help others in addiction.”
You can expect to see our furry friend around Malvern Treatment Centers often. We are delighted to have Rommel helping our patients and hope he is delighted, too!
Check out our Facebook page for a picture of Rommel at Malvern: www.Facebook.com/MalvernInstitute