April 15, 2024
Volunteer duo Patches and Glen Gross are a familiar sight at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. Gross began volunteering with Alberta Health Services in 2015 alongside his former Border Collie, Misha. He's now approaching two years of volunteering with his current companion, Patches. Photo by Evan Isbister.
Patches, a six-year-old Border Collie, spent his first three-and-a-half years on a farm herding cattle and goats. Sadly, Patches lost his sight and retired from farm work. He was adopted by Glen Gross, moved to Edmonton, and has been working his second career as a therapy dog. Photo by Evan Isbister.
Patches is a crowd favourite at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton. Photo by Evan Isbister.
Story by Mary Garcia | Photos by Evan Isbister
EDMONTON — From farm dog to therapy dog, the past few years for Patches, a six-year-old Border Collie, have been nothing short of exciting. Since moving away from the farm and into the city, this pooch has been bringing joy to patients at the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) alongside Glen Gross, his “pawrent” and volunteer sidekick.
After Patches lost his eyesight, he could no longer complete his farm duties and was adopted by Gross in 2019. Just as he excelled in herding cattle and goats, Patches has been equally amazing at being a companion to the patients he and Gross visit at the RAH.
Reflecting on Patches’ first few times visiting patients, Gross says — “he was born for this” — recalling a conversation with Patches’ previous owners.
This isn’t the first time Gross has done pet visitation at the RAH. He and his previous Border Collie, Misha, once roamed the hallways of RAH and brought smiles to countless patients and staff from 2015 to 2019. When Gross retired Misha from her pet therapy duties in 2019, he continued to volunteer in different capacities, including solo patient visiting and wayfinding. When his partner-in-good, Misha, passed away in 2021, Gross feared that he would never find another dog with Misha’s gentle nature.
“I wanted to adopt another rescue dog, a Border Collie like Misha and have them join me as a therapy dog,” adds Gross. “But I thought the chances of getting another dog with Misha’s temperament were close to zero.”
However, Patches proved him wrong, now building on Misha’s legacy with his calm and loving demeanor. “Patches has Misha’s temperament when it comes to people — he’s laid back and genuinely loves everybody.”
Seeing dogs in hospitals is often unexpected, yet the sight of pet visitors roaming around — interacting with patients and becoming part of someone’s healthcare journey — brings a refreshing sense of comfort to many. “If Patches and I can be a bright spot in someone’s day, then we’ve done our job,” says Gross, who’s nearing two years of pet visitation with Patches.
Gross recalls a touching moment which involved a patient recovering from a fall. He found motivation to move and become more active thanks to Patches’ company. “The smile on this patient’s face was just incredible,” adds Gross. “I knew we were making a difference.”
Their presence at RAH isn’t just for patients. They also provide comfort to staff during Full Moon Fridays, the one-off Friday shifts closest to the full moon that he reserves for staff-only visits.
Sitting in an area of the Emergency Department where staff enter and leave their shifts, Gross fondly shares a moment when a weary ED physician found comfort in spending time with Patches, even for just a few minutes. “If we can do something for the staff too, then we’re all for it. The staff at the RAH are amazing.”
Patches and Gross are a familiar sight at the RAH where introducing Patches to patients is the ultimate icebreaker. To spark conversation, Gross often encourages patients to look into Patches’ eyes and share what they see. Most notice the cloudy, opaque look, sparking discussions about Patches’ condition and journey to volunteering.
“One day, a patient silently studied Patches’ eyes. It took a while, but eventually the patient looked up, smiled, and said — ‘I see love’ — and they were right. Love is what Patches brings to every interaction.: For individuals like Gross who began volunteering after retirement, this experience has been enriching. “You learn so much from other people.”
As they continue their volunteering mission, bringing smiles to patients one day at a time, Gross and Patches exemplify the power of companionship. They inspire others to lend a helping hand, or paw. Volunteers like Gross and Patches play an important role in the delivery of patient care and positive experiences.
For Gross, volunteering isn’t just about giving back, it’s about the joy and fulfilment it brings. “I feel that sometimes I get more out of this than I put into it. It’s a great feeling.”
Help celebrate the many contributions of AHS’ amazing volunteers for National Volunteer Week (April 14 to 20).
Take a moment to share your appreciation for volunteers in-person, online at thanksforcaring.ca, or by using the hashtag #NVW2024 on social media.
