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| A heart-warming tail It's all about pets, pats and spreading joy. Andrew Dembina goes for therapeutic walkies South China Morning Post |
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Teachers beam at the dog as she enters the first classroom of eight students. Smolar sits on a low stool on castors, holding the dog's restraining chain, then slides himself from one seated toddler (kids' ages range from two to six) to the next. "Kung hei fat choi!" shouts Matthew Yip, 5, at the dog. The centre's principal, Betty Wong Suk-chan, becomes almost as animated as the children, encouraging them to speak and sing to Style and stroke her as she does the rounds. On our way to the next class, Wong says: "The children in this group are more severely handicapped and are unable to speak much, but Style always makes the kids more verbally active than human volunteers that visit." In this class, each child sits at a desk and has a personal helper on hand. Smolar leads Style around to each one. Verbal reactions are, indeed, minimal, but from the moment four-year-old Chung On-kang claps eyes on the dog he has a fixed ear-to-ear grin. The third group is the largest. And its 12 little
boys and girls, seated in a semi-cricle, erupt in applause at the
sight of Style. Wong Tin-yau, 5, sings Style the Good Morning Song
in Cantonese. After much patting and some hair-pulling, the dog,
forever docile, takes a trot This is all in a day's work for Style, who started her so-called canine therapy sessions at the centre about 18 months ago. Smolar, Style and his two other dogs have been providing their special brand of therapy at institutions and events for children and the elderly for the past four years. The Native American, an independent communications consultant, launched his not-for-profit Smile with Style programme after a decade of visiting public hospitals and homes for the elderly as a volunteer. "I was unable to communicate in Chinese," he says. "Eventually, I found a home [for the elderly] where people did speak English, but I could not take my dogs there. So, I invited residents to visit my home. "One woman was terrified at the idea of dogs, but I persuaded her to come. "At my home, I sat her in the corner with Style, who has the most calm and gentle personality of the three. Slowly, she started to pat her softly until she ended up embracing the dog as tears of joy streamed down her face. It was a huge life experience for her." It was also a special moment for Smolar, who says he realised that there were probably many people who had never known the affection of a well-trained dog. He contacted various charities, and soon began arranging visits for special needs and under-privileged children, and the elderly. "We're open to visits anywhere in Hong Kong," Smolar says. |
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Caring for sick children  |
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| Dear Mr. Smolar It was our pleasure to have you and Style with us at our Christmas Party. I am sure both Style and the children had a good time together. As a non-profit organization, we rely on the support from our community to realize our services. I look forward to the continued support of you in the days to come. Once again, thank you for your care and concern of the sick children. Katy Lo, House Manager, Ronald McDonald House |
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"Hello, Style!" says one of the reception
staff at the Heep Hong Society's Special Child Care Centre in Wan
Chai, as Brad Smolar walks through the door with a four-year-old
Shetland sheepdog. Style, is the dog's name, and she and her owner
have arrived for a "Smile with Style" session.
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Treated in Style
Dear Mr. Smolar
On behalf of all the children, we would like to extend our appreciation for bringing your special friend "Style" to our Integration Fun Day at the Peak play ground. The children had so much fun and joy with "Style". For many of them it was a happy and memorable experience.
Thank you again for making the day so special for the children!
Jessie Yee, Community Services Manager, Treats
Honour humanity
South China Morning Post
Dr. Margaret Cheng
What can you do to prevent yourself and those you love from despair? Brad Smolar has found a solution. An American who has his own business in Hong Kong, Smolar, like us all, felt helpless on September 11 last year as he watched planes smash into the symbols of capitalism, destroying lives and security around the world.
Smolar looked for something to redress the balance. He didn't look for revenge; he looked for some good he could do. So he involved some of those he loved most: his dogs. He has three beautiful dogs, including a blue-eyed, grey, brown and white sheltie called Style.
She's the kind of dog even dog-haters find themselves drawn to - outgoing, but not overwhelming - and unusually attractive, you can't help reaching out to touch her. Smolar thought people who don't normally get a chance to play with dogs might benefit from spending time with Style. So he contacted institutions caring for the elderly and for disabled children and offered to take Style for a visit. He even gave the visits a title, "Smile with Style".
I went along to the Heep Hong Society, a charity for disabled children, in Wan Chai one Friday afternoon with Smolar and Style to see the dog work her magic. Betty Wong, whose title is centre-in-charge, took us through each room introducing us to the children and explaining their individual needs.
But Style needed no introduction. She went up to each child and most were delighted to get a lick or a chance to cuddle a living creature. Some shrank away, a fairly common response among children, but contact with the gentle Style soon erased their fear.
When Smolar called and asked whether Heep Hong would like a visit from Style, Wong said she jumped at the chance. Now he visits regularly and has scheduled visits to other groups as well. In fact, with so many people enjoying the visits, he could be busy all week tagging along with Style.
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