In the mid nineties I had the blessing of being employed by a senior retirement home as resident assistant, or assistant to the residents. While my job was technically in the marketing and sales office, quite literally a majority of my work week was handling needs, complaints, and cares of the hundred-fifty residents. Thus when things went “haywire” I was usually the first staff member to learn of it.

Please note that all names of persons in this article are fictitious to protect the identity of the actual individuals in this article.

Where Not to Put a Dog Treat

Max was an eighty year old man, who had two adorable shelties. The tri-color female he named Molly, and the sable male, was Buddy. On the east side of the facility was a grassy area which was fairly level and resembled a miniature park. This area was a favorite place for residents with dogs to come to play or exercise their pet.

Every evening Max would take Buddy and Molly to this area to play ball. Often Max’s neighbor, Louise would accompany them, as she enjoyed watching the pups play. It was from Louise that I learned of this incident.

One particular evening Max stuffed a couple of dog biscuits in his hip pocket, as he, Louise and the pups set out for this grassy area for a romp. The dogs ran chasing ball after ball until they were exhausted. Molly ran for Louise who had a dog treat ready to give her.

Max on the other hand was trying to play with Buddy, who was bewildered he didn’t get his treat. The pup ran in circles around Max (this is normal for this breed as they are herding dogs). Max broke out in laughter watching poor Buddy run for all he was worth looking for his treat.

Then Max made a dreadful mistake he bent over from laughing so hard grasping his knees. Buddy smelling the dog treat in Max’s back pocket made a run for it. Before Louise could warn Max, Buddy, latched onto the treat, pocket and Max’s flesh. Naturally Max yelled in pain, as he stood up, which caused Buddy to rip the pocket, but he didn’t ease up on his grip of that treat.

In the week that followed Max good naturally took much razzing from other residents as every time he went to sit down in the dining room or resident lounge, he did so rather gingerly.