Finn celebrates 1st birthday in style

Although Finn just turned one year old last month, he already knows his way around Memorial Community Care and has even learned which of the residents has the best treats. He even did his part to raise money for Aurora Adopt a Pet as part of his first birthday celebration last month. 
That’s because Finn is a comfort dog who lives with MCC Activities Director Jessie Morales and he goes to work with her several days a week where he makes the rounds and helps bring smiles to faces of the residents. 
One of those residents is Rhonda Cloet who is one of Finn’s special friends, but she admits she takes a back seat to her next door neighbor Jane Larsen, who is always first his first appointment in the morning when he arrives at work.  
“Jane is the first one that he goes to see and then he’ll come back to me,” Cloet said. 
“He sits right beside her, his butt in the back of the chair, and he just sits there and lays on her lap.” 
Cloet said if anyone refers to Larsen as Jane, Finn doesn’t understand who is being referred to, but if they call her “Great Grandmas Jane” he goes straight to her. She said after he goes and visits Larsen he will usually come and see her next, but he also has other favorite residents because they always have treats for him and he has figured out who is the most generous with them. 
Cloet commented that Finn is loved by everyone at the facility including some who are not naturally dog lovers and all the loving attention has left him not just a little bit spoiled.
“He’s a lot spoiled,” Cloet said. 
Morales, who already had two dogs at home, adopted the Bichon Frise/Golden Lab mix after he and his two siblings were were surrendered to the Adopt a Pet. Finn was the last one waiting to be adopted so Morales, an AAAP volunteer, offered to foster him.  
“His calm demeanor and relaxed personality made him a perfect fit in the nursing home environment,” Morales said. “He has done some obedience training and will continue to do more in the future. He brings joy and love to the residents and staff morale has improved since he began coming.”
Morales said Finn, who has the head and big feet of a Labrador and the curly fur and short stature of a Bichon Frise, suffers some physical problems because the two breeds are not a good mix. However, his size and temperament make him perfect as a comfort dog for the residents. 
“He gets tired pretty easily running around these halls,” Morales said. “So he’s usually only here in the mornings and doesn’t come if its muddy and wet.”  
She said residents will often ask staff members if Finn is coming in that day and on certain days when residents seem to be feeling especially low she will make a special trip home to get him and bring him in. She said the dog has also created a calming influence for staff members and everyone is excited when he comes to visit. 
“If you’re feeling low he brings you up,” Cloet said. 
Finn also enjoys his time outdoors at the facility and residents say they love to watch him play with grasshoppers. 
When Finn celebrated his first birthday last month, MCC staff, residents and family members came together to make donations for supplies to be purchased in his honor for Adopt a Pet and raised enough to purchase food, toys and other supplies for the shelter. The supplies and a check were presented by the residents to Adopt a Pet representative Dawn Haymart at a special post-birthday gathering on Friday, Sept. 27.