One senior housing community adopts a therapy dog to provide residents with companionship and affection.
Living in a one-bedroom apartment without any family nearby can be a little lonely for Lissa Cannon, a resident at Country Village Apartments in Mira Loma, Calif. So when the 58-year-old is having a bad day, she turns to a close friend.
Her pal just happens to be a dog.
Cannon is one of many residents at the 1,238-unit senior community who have fallen in love with Pang Pang, a golden retriever who has become the unofficial mascot of Country Village.
The 6-year-old dog was adopted last year by Sharron Lambeth, Senior Regional Property Manager for Beacon Property Management Group Inc., who works onsite at Country Village. Jim Notley, Owner and President of Beacon Property Management, brought up the idea at a team meeting after he stayed at a hotel with a mascot dog, and Lambeth was immediately on board. Both thought it would be a great idea for the residents—many of whom are in their 70s and do not have the money or resources to take care of a pet on their own—to have a community dog they could visit in the leasing office.
“It is a difficult time for seniors, many of whom are stressed financially because their income and investments can’t keep pace with increased expenses,” Lambeth says. “Others have serious health problems. So whatever fun, care and joy we can bring into our residents’ lives, we do. I knew a dog could provide a big, helpful distraction from dealing with health, family and financial issues.”
Lambeth had owned golden retrievers in the past and thought the gentle, playful breed would make for the perfect companion at the pet-friendly community, where 70 percent of the residents own smaller pets.
She contacted the Golden Retriever Rescue of Greater Los Angeles, expressed her interest in adopting a dog and was introduced to Pang Pang.
The rambunctious pooch was rescued from the streets of Taiwan and nursed back to health at a local shelter before being sent to Los Angeles. While most of the other dogs were starving and underweight, this particular canine was actually overweight. When it came time for volunteers in Taiwan to name her, they came up with Pang Pang—which translates to “Chubby” in Chinese.
The rescue foundation warned Lambeth that Pang Pang—in addition to loving food—was high energy and not very well-behaved, but she decided to take a chance.
Pang Pang has made great strides during the year and a half she has been at Country Village. The dog was officially adopted by Lambeth, trained and certified as a therapy dog—which means she was taught to provide affection and comfort to those in need. Pang Pang comes to work every day and spends her time visiting with residents. At the end of the day, she goes home with Lambeth.“It’s the most amazing thing,” Lambeth says. “Pang Pang attends almost all of our functions, rides in the golf cart with people and visits residents when they are ill. She has been very unifying for our community. It’s hard to describe—her connection with our residents goes beyond what we ever imagined.”
Talk of the Town
Cannon, a resident of Country Village for four years, has always liked dogs but says her apartment is not large enough to comfortably house a pet. Legally blind, she was also concerned she would trip over a dog of her own.
Pang Pang has provided Cannon with companionship, minus the worry.
“I sit in the lobby with Pang Pang and rub her behind her ears,” she says. “Pang Pang makes you feel like there is someone out there who really cares about you. She’s such an even-tempered dog and gives you that little confidence boost you need.”
In less than two years, Pang Pang has become everyone’s best friend. The 69-pound golden retriever has a Facebook page with more than 400 friends who write on her wall and follow her adventures. The page also tracks Pang Pang’s weight—a constant battle for the pooch, who loves cookies and is always on a diet because the residents often sneak her treats.
Resident Don Phillips is one of Pang Pang’s biggest fans, frequently driving her around the community in his golf cart. The 79-year-old says the dog loves to get up on the seat or sprawl out on the floor of the cart. When she’s not riding shotgun, Pang Pang can often be seen at the guard shack by the front gate of the community, greeting residents as they drive in.
“Pang Pang has been an absolutely lovely addition to Country Village,” says Phillips, who lives with his wife in a two-bedroom apartment. “She has the sweetest personality and has an amazing ability to recognize when someone isn’t feeling well or is in need of a little love. There are a group of female residents in the community with dementia and Pang Pang is excellent with them. Bringing her to Country Village is one of the nicest things I’ve ever seen.”
Phillips isn’t alone in his adoration for the animal. Some residents have even painted portraits of Pang Pang and written her poems.
“Pang Pang has become an important member of Country Village,” says Lambeth, who also owns a boxer. “We’ve incorporated her into all of our advertising—from calendars to our community website and “Team Pang Pang” t-shirts that our 30 onsite employees wear. She’s just a ray of sunshine.”
Such advertising has paid off. Last year Country Village received an award from their local apartment association for Most Creative Marketing Strategy.
Lambeth says Pang Pang has not only improved resident retention, but captivated the community of Mira Loma. Her presence has been requested for everything from meetings at the nearby Chamber of Commerce to the local senior center and library, where the dog will be a part of its reading program.
“We’ve developed a slideshow presentation and go to these places with the message of supporting the seniors in your life, as well as animal rescue,” Lambeth says. “This has worked so well for us, yet I don’t know of any other communities that have adopted a dog.”
Learning to Love
Although Lambeth says the program has exceeded her wildest expectations, there was a significant amount of time, training and expense involved.
“When we first discussed adopting a dog, we failed to consider the attention the animal would require,” Lambeth says. “I’ve always had dogs, but I have never rescued a pet. The process was more involved than I could have imagined and Pang Pang was very much in need of training.”
After hiring a trainer, Pang Pang was certified as a therapy dog within three months. The designation was important not only for the safety of the residents but because it enabled Pang Pang to visit senior centers, trade shows and other public venues.
The dog is still high-energy but has become “intensely loving and devoted,” Lambeth says. “Pang Pang has major separation anxiety when she is away from me for long and craves attention, but it’s perfect for us because we all love to spoil her. And in return, she is very loving to our seniors and our staff.”
Lambeth and Country Village share Pang Pang’s expenses, although the community pays for the majority of her training, grooming, food and veterinarian bills.
It’s a worthwhile investment not only for senior housing, Lambeth says, but for communities with children whose families cannot afford a pet.
Lambeth plans to retire in a year, but says she is already making arrangements to ensure that Pang Pang will remain a big part of Country Village.
It’s welcome news for Cannon.
“Just knowing that source of unconditional love is there every day is really nice.”
Lauren Boston is NAA’s Staff Writer. She can be reached at
lauren@naahq.org or 703/797-0678.