Residents at Menarock Life Shepparton spend most days in the company of a nine-month-old English blue staffy named Marley.
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The aged-care facility director of nursing Wendy Birch was surprised to receive the puppy as a Christmas gift and decided Marley would make the perfect facility companion for residents.
‘‘I started bringing her in when she was eight weeks old because I wanted the residents to enjoy her,’’ Ms Birch said.
Enjoying watching Marley grow, Ms Birch said the residents had formed friendships with the dog.
‘‘It takes me half an hour to get out of here at the end of the day because everyone wants to pat her goodbye — which she goes to every person and they all give her a little pat,’’ she said.
‘‘One resident in particular, Gerry Taylor, has taken a real shine to her.’’
Ms Birch said Marley had been a good companion for Mr Taylor.
‘‘He took an interest in training her — which I thought was a good idea and he has become very attached to her and she’s become very attached to him,’’ she said.
Walking Marley on a regular basis, Mr Taylor said she meets the criteria to be a workplace dog.
‘‘This little girl walks around meeting everybody and is learning respect for the residents — she’s gone from a boisterous puppy to a gentle soul,’’ he said.
Never owning a dog of his own, Mr Taylor said he had been learning a lot about the canine.
‘‘She’s one of the most attractive dogs I have ever seen and she’s got a real personality,’’ he said.
‘‘When she was a little pup she was a real bounder, she still is actually but she’s settling and becoming quite amendable.’’
Mr Taylor admitted him and the ‘‘little miss’’ have their disagreements, but for the most part they are the best of friends.
‘‘She learns pretty quickly what’s a good idea and what’s not, but her ideas are always the best,’’ he said.
Spending hours on end wandering the aged-care facility and shining a light in every room she walks into, Mr Taylor says he misses Marley once she goes home.
‘‘She’s got great manners, she lets you do your thing without any worry, but when she wants attention she’ll demand it,’’ he said.
Returning home in time for dinner, Ms Birch said Marley was exhausted from her daily duties.
‘‘She goes straight to her bed and has a sleep, then gets up for dinner, then goes back to bed,’’ she said.
Ms Birch said she enjoyed seeing the smiles on the residents’ faces when Marley walked into the room.
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