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Four-legged volunteer everyone’s best friend

When it’s time to slip on the volunteer bandana, Abby’s at the ready, tail wagging, knowing it won’t be long before she’s greeting young children or seniors.
Ron Gibbar and Abby DL 0417t
Sue Lawrence and Ron Gibbar pose with Abby, who volunteers for Dog Tales and visits patients and residents at Oilfields General Hospital.

When it’s time to slip on the volunteer bandana, Abby’s at the ready, tail wagging, knowing it won’t be long before she’s greeting young children or seniors.

The eight-year-old border collie cross has become a regular at Oilfields General Hospital and schools through the Literacy for Life’s Dog Tales program, with help from owners Ron Gibbar and Sue Lawrence of Turner Valley.

“From Day 1 we knew she was going to be a good dog,” said Gibbar, adding they adopted Abby as a pup after she was rescued from a reserve in the Northwest Territories.

“We put her in the back of the van and she just laid there without a whimper, without a trace of nervousness. I tell people if I had a choice of having Abby or winning the lottery there is no choice in my mind.”

Once a week, Gibbar brings Abby to the hospital to visit Rising Sun Long Term Care residents and acute-care patients.

“I don’t know who likes Abby more, the staff or the residents,” Gibbar said.

Alberta Health Services rewarded the pair’s volunteer efforts two years ago, presenting them a certificate for 250 hours of volunteer service at Oilfields General Hospital.

Gibbar walks the long-term care hallways with Abby at his side, asking residents if they’d like a visit.

“The more lucid ones love her and want me to bring her over so they can pet her and scratch her ears — Abby just absolutely loves that,” he said. “It brings a lot of pleasure to people. It makes me feel good.”

Gibbar brings Abby to Rising Sun first, then the acute care ward before returning to the long-term care wing.

“A lot of people are suffering from dementia and other disorders and their memories aren’t that great,” he said. “Also, sometimes a lot of people aren’t up and about the first time I’m in.”

It was while volunteering for bingo at the Rising Sun four years ago that Gibbar heard people were bringing their dogs to brighten the days of residents.

“I knew from Abby’s demeanor that she would be great at it,” he said. “It took two weeks for her to learn how to heel next to a wheelchair. She’s a dynamite dog.”

Abby has also become a celebrity at schools in the Dog Tales program, a Literacy for Life initiative that connects dogs with elementary school children to read to, to help boost their reading confidence.

“The kids come in with some books and sit down on the floor and read and the dogs cuddle up beside them,” explained Gibbar. “I look over their shoulder. If they have a problem with a word they point to it and I help them out.”

Gibbar said Abby lies near the child, often resting her chin on the book.

“I call Abby a canine bookmark,” he said. “The poor kids have to slide the book around to change pages.”

Janine Jones, Millarville Community Library manager and Dog Tales facilitator, sees Abby’s contribution as invaluable.

“Abby is really such a good dog,” said Jones. “She just lays there and they just pet her. The kids look forward to it all week, being able to come and read to the dogs.”

Jones said Dog Tales is all about getting children to enjoy reading.

“They’re making an impact in the future of the children,” she said of Abby and her masters. “If you can enjoy reading you can become more skilled at it. It’s an essential skill that makes everything so much more easier for them.”

Even without Abby at his side, Gibbar is an avid volunteer.

He’s a member of the Diamond Valley Community Garden Board, Friends of the Sheep River Library Board, Diamond Valley Parks and Recreation Board and volunteers for Meals on Wheels, the Griffiths Memorial Centre, Foothills Energy Co-op and Turner Valley Legion breakfast with Santa.

“Since I’m fully retired I’m a professional volunteer,” he said. “Maybe it’s greed on my part because I get a lot of satisfaction out of doing it.”

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