LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — When Chip, a border collie mix, saw Lois Johnson Jr., the two had an instant connection.
"It's a good feeling because I see my dog once every month because I live in the facility," Johnson said.
Johnson is a resident at Ashton Manor, a senior citizen home. Chip is visiting Ashton Manor from the Gwinnett Animal Welfare Center. A month ago, the center started its senior pet therapy program, where dogs like Chip visit different senior facilities across the county.
"It gets the dog out of the shelter, and they get petted and loved. It's great for the seniors great for the dogs, so it's a win-win for us," Marketing and Resource Coordinator Stacie Miller said.
When Johnson looks at Chip, it brings back all of his happy memories.
"When I got Joy, I was diagnosed with dementia before I got Joy and I use to have a dog in my early teens. So that just brought back the old days when it made me feel the joy, that's why I named her Joy, back to my life," Johnson said.
Chip happily wagged his tail as Johnson petted him. For Chip, his calm nature is a sign of progress for the two-year-old dog.
"When he first came in two weeks ago, he did not walk on a leash. Our officers had to come in and pick him up he was very very scared," Miller said.
But now Chip can confidently walk around Ashton Manor and bring a smile to Johnson and the other seniors.
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