18 April

Reunion. Zinnia Rushes To Comfort A Friend In Need

by Jon Katz

Zinnia and I went to the Mansion today to take a photo of Nathan McKensie, the awfully smart Mansion maintenance staffer who contacted me about purchasing a Disinfectant Fogger that will enable the aides to sanitize the entire building safely and thoroughly in minutes, rather than many hours three times a day.

The aides need time to be with the residents, and the hand wiping is ruining furniture and tables.

But more importantly, this is a way to keep this institution safe while so many elder care facilities are suffering awful losses due to the coronavirus.

Tia, an aide and Zinnia’s great pal, was coming off shift and going home. She has been working hard, and she just lit up when she saw Zinnia across the yard.

Zinnia spotted her just as Tia spotted her, and the reunion was right out of Casablanca. Even a Pandemic can’t stop a good therapy dog from offering some comfort.

(I have no illusions about too much therapy dog work. Animals have been proven to carry the virus, although few seem to get very sick. Tia was on her way home, and Zinnia won’t be going into the Mansion anytime soon.)

I’m looking to raise $3,000 to purchase this new system (video of Nathan coming tomorrow morning) and so far I’ve gotten $2,000 – thank you.

This will enable us to buy the primary hand carrying spray machine, the rest will enable us to buy some replacement canisters and spray and degreasers.

You can check out the first story here, I’ll write about it more tonight or tomorrow.

If you wish to contribute to the Disinfectant Fogger – it could really help to keep the residents safe, even save lives – you can so so via Paypal, [email protected], or by check, Jon Katz, Fogger, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.

This scene with Tia touched me, this work matters to Zinnia, and she matters to the aides and the staff.  She’ll be back one day.

There is always a way to do some good. Thanks for helping with the foggers. We’re not there yet, but getting close, and I promised myself that this would happen. It will.

1 Comments

  1. Jon, this picture is so poignant. You can see how Zinnia is so focused on Tia. I’ve spoken to many folks who are so grateful that they have dogs or cats, because they find such comfort and calm in their unconditional presence. The fogger is going to be such a help to the Staff! Way to go, Jon – still doing good, no matter the circumstances. I think this is the whole idea for all of us.

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