Dog on a mission

MOSES LAKE — An Ephrata dog, formerly homeless and hungry, now performs tricks for Columbia Basin’s elderly.

“This is God’s work,” said Phyllis Dable, one of Dingo’s owners. “It’s God’s work to remember the elderly.”

Phyllis and husband Mike take Dingo to nursing home facilities in Ephrata, Quincy, Moses Lake and Soap Lake, where she visits residents and performs for them.

Dingo made her second appearance in Moses Lake Thursday, visiting SunBridge Special Care Center, a facility treating primarily Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. Her last visit to Moses Lake was in December 2007.

For a treat, Dingo is glad to sit on command or shake hands with her paw.

SunBridge Activities Director Lily Hammon said visits from animals are a “bright spot” in a resident’s day.

The nursing home has two residential pet therapy dogs, a Chihuahua named Marley and a large black dog named Leah.

A 101-year-old resident really likes Marley.

“She thinks that little Marley is her baby,” Hammon said.

Activities Assistant Robert Wambolt said visits from animals bring happiness to the residents.

Phyllis and Mike found Dingo across the street from their home in 2005.

“She’d been there about a week,” Mike recalled. “No food, just laying in a little nest of leaves she’d made.”

Mike said the dog appeared malnourished and had sores on her body. She appeared to have recently given birth to puppies.

Mike cleaned Dingo with water from Soap Lake.

Dingo is now a therapy dog with an adventurous life. She visited the National Guard armory, the Ephrata Fire Department, Ephrata Middle School, and participated in parades in Ephrata, Quincy and Soap Lake. Mike and Phyllis hope Dingo can visit patients at Spokane’s veteran hospital this spring.

“They call her the ‘miracle dog’ in Quincy,” Phyllis said.

Phyllis described Dingo as a quiet dog, and Mike said she is gentle.

“The wheel chairs don’t bother her a bit,” Phyllis said. “When they’re in the beds, she goes right up to the beds.”