Residents of Hampshire House senior living community in Oneonta enjoyed a Christmas Day visit from Benjamin, Coco Bean, Cinderella and Mabel — elderly rescue dogs that came bearing cozy gifts with their owners, Jill and Marc Guy.
The Guys, of Schenevus, have 13 other elderly rescue dogs at home and have been doing Christmas visits at Hampshire House with some of their dogs for the last four years.
“We thought it would be a good idea,” Jill Guy said. “A lot of them are lonely or don't have family to visit, and they like to visit with the dogs. It's something fun to do.”
“It gets the dogs out, too,” Marc Guy said.
The Guys also volunteered earlier in the day serving Christmas dinner with the Bandera Family and Community Alliance in Norwich.
On Wednesday, the four dogs rolled into the Hampshire House lobby wearing holiday outfits and riding in two decorated toddler cars, each towing a cart filled with fleece blankets for the residents.
About half a dozen residents greeted the dogs from their armchairs. Janice Haskell visited with Coco Bean, a 12-year-old female chihuahua. Haskell lives with her own pet dog.
She expressed her love for animals and the joy the visit brought.
“My father had a big farm over the Gilbertsville,” she said. “We had all kinds (of animals). When I went to school and came home, I never knew what was up in the barn … I think animals are the best therapy, the best therapy they can have.”
Jill Guy said that their adopted dogs have come to them through rescue organizations and shelters. Many are rescued from difficult situations. Some come from puppy mills, like Benjamin, an 8-year-old cavalier King Charles spaniel who spent seven years of his life inside a cage.
“We get them all as seniors, the ones that nobody wants,” Jill Guy said. “If one passes away, then we have an opening for another one.”
Both Jill and Marc Guy work at Royal Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Oneonta. Each of their dogs has a toddler car used as a carriage, decorated with a personalized license plate bearing the state where the dog was from. Some are even remote controlled, Jill Guy said.
The visit was well-received, with the residents enjoying the interaction and the Guys expressing their commitment to bringing happiness to the senior residents on Christmas.
Shaylee Cooper, a medication technician, said she saw “a lot of smiles” when the residents were interacting with the dogs.
“They get really excited when a bunch of animals come,” Cooper said. “They love spending time with them.”
