Her registered name is Voila Sleek Brie at Morningdew.
But everyone at Prairie Mountain Health personal care homes around this area, just call her Brie.
The seven year-old registered Great Dane dropped into the Russell PCH last week. She brought along her ‘roommate’ Elaine Dixon - to drive....
Elaine has been a member and a director of the Great Dane Club of Canada for decades. Now she actively rescues Great Danes through New Hope for Danes which was started in 1984.
Brie however is not a rescue. She came from Melissa Schrempp of Morningdew Great Danes from Melville - who has now taken over the rescue. Coincidentally, Melissa is the daughter of Ivan and Gloria Armstrong of Inglis.
Brie is a member of Prairie Therapy Dogs through Prairie Mountain Health. In fact, Brie has her own PMH identification tag and wears a bandana with the PMH logo.
Elaine explained that the Prairie Therapy Dogs program doesn’t require any more training than a conscientious dog owner would normally give their dog.
“I saw an ad in the paper and I contacted Ngaire Abernathy who is with Prairie Mountain Health and took Brie to the testing one evening in Brandon, which she passed with flying colors,” Elaine says.
“The dogs have to be of good health and temperament and up to date on their vaccines,”
Elaine explained.
“Dogs should be friendly and comfortable in a public setting,” Elaine said. “They have to show that they’re comfortable around equipment like wheelchairs and okay with other dogs. And of course, we have to be able to control our dogs.”
The assessment she says is designed to show that the dog is friendly and not overly assertive.
“The Alliance of Therapy Dogs is affiliated with PMH and their assessors look to see that the dog isn’t easily stressed or assertive when they play,” Elaine explained adding that during testing, the owners are asked to walk, run and play with their dogs and then ensure that they can calm down quickly.
Although this is the first time that Elaine and Brie had been to the PCH in Russell, they’ve been to the personal care homes in Shoal Lake, Birtle and Rossburn. Brie loves it there, Elaine says, as much as the residents love having her.
“I was thinking that it would be lovely to have more people sign up for the program and have their dogs assessed. I’d love to have the assessment here because I have the room and right now there isn’t as much being done outside Brandon or Winnipeg.
Along with personal care homes, Elaine says she’d love to be able to take Brie into schools and daycares.
“Brie absolutely adores children,” she said. “When- ever she sees little kids, she’s right there and just lays down and lets them pet her. She just loves kids so much, no matter what the age.”
“We’re both certified in that I have all my record checks done so we’re good to go there.”
Anyone who would like to sign up for the program is encouraged to check out the Prairie Mountain Health website and click on Programs and Services. Under volunteer services - which it is - you’ll find Dog Therapy which will take you to the proper site.
“It would be absolutely wonderful if we had more people in the program,” Dixon said. “The dogs can be any breed at all. Brie is registered but they certainly don’t have to be.”
Rescues, are fine too she said.
“I think animals who are rescued are always so happy to have people - they’re just grateful - so they’d be great for this type of program.”
Aside from checking out the Prairie Mountain Health website, Elaine said anyone who is interested should also go to the Alliance of Therapy Dogs website which is mentioned on the PMH  link to dog therapy.
Alliance of Therapy Dogs is a very large non-profit organization based in the States with over 15,000 members. They offer on-going education, with their membership as well as pay for the blanket insurance for the program and the volunteers.
For info Email:
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