CRESTVIEW — Dozer the Therapy Dog's life will be a little less active now.
Oct. 13 marked Dozer's last session as a greeter at the Walgreens in Crestview.
"It started as a one-time event to kick off National Take Your Dog to Work Day," Nousiainen said. "It was such a hit we were invited to make it a monthly event."
Over the past four years, Nousiainen said, "We have greeted customers having an average day and those having one of the worst days of their lives. Some who recently lost a loved one (a spouse, parent or canine family member); some who struggle with depression and stress — just getting out of the house — were all smiles when Dozer greeted them at the door. It was an honor to be there for them."
"We're going to miss him…," Dan Anderson, Walgreens store manager, said. "Customers looked forward to the days he was here. They were excited to have their pictures taken with him."
Anderson said seeing how well Dozer interacts with the public factored into his becoming a greeter at the pharmacy.
"Walgreens has treated us well and always made us feel welcome. Their employees go out of their way to make sure we are comfortable and they come (to) get Dozer snuggles every chance they get," Nousiainen said of the experience.
"I am very grateful Mr. Anderson didn't hesitate to think outside the box and try something nobody else around here had. I think it was a big hit; many happy customers."
Dozer's health
Nouisianen said the 7-year-old Great Dane has been "working" for six years. "I wanted to free up his schedule a little and maybe explore new things or just rest a little.
"Shortly after making that decision Dozer developed an issue with his hips. The vet thinks he pulled a muscle in his neck, causing the problem. We are making improvements on it, though. The vet wanted him to try three weeks of this medication and see how he's doing."
To compensate for the injury, the team still makes visits — but shorter ones.
"As he gets older we may have to retire more visits, (like to) places that require a lot of walking. But there are some visits he'll do until he retires (completely),” Nouisianen said. “He'll always be part of the program at the Crestview Public Library."
Dozer also visits the Ronald McDonald House in Pensacola once a week, the Okaloosa Airport, and area nursing homes, assisted living facilities and local organizations.
Benefits of therapy dogs
Nousiainen said therapy dogs benefit people in physical and emotional ways. They:
•lower blood pressure
•promote calmness
•help with anxiety, depression and stress.
She said, "I think you can actually see stress leave a person's face."
During visits to the Ronald McDonald House in Pensacola, "We greet the parents when they come back from the hospital. It's like taking an emotional break,” Nousiainen. “Talking dogs instead of doctors for 20 minutes gives them a kind of relief … and you can see it in their face."
She has also seen how people react when Dozer comes into the room.
"(People) who may not be very sociable and want to interact — he brings that out in them. They immediately want to go to him and pet him and talk to him.
"Sometimes some of the work we do with adolescent group homes, when Dozer comes up to them and snuggles with them, they can feel the love.”
Keeping in touch
Dozer may not be as famous as the canine star of Disney Channel’s "Dog with a Blog," but he does have his own Facebook page with 10,000 likes.
"I started that just so I could keep track of my own visits, but it's grown into so much more," Nouisiainen said.
"His page has actually encouraged others to join a therapy dog program because they were inspired by Dozer's page,” she said. “One of his friends in Michigan is at the University of Michigan hospital. They've been doing things (like hospital visits) he couldn't accomplish here …”
Those who miss Dozer at Walgreens can always count on his social media presence.
"You can always follow Dozer on Facebook or drop him an email," Nousiainen said. His email address is dozersemails@yahoo.com.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'It was an honor to be there for them'