Case File: #001

Old Ben

A Clock Tower Connection

Pawsborough is one of those city’s that never sleeps, especially when you have a St. Bernard chiming in every hour on the hour. Today, I met the talk of the town, the literal “barker” of time, Old Ben.

Old Ben was abandoned and found solace near the Clock Tower in Central Pawsborough. If one were to speculate, it could be said that this clock was the last vestige of routine and predictability in Old Ben’s disrupted world. Ben’s journey from an iconic sentinel to a shelter sensation is, frankly, a story worthy of a Broadway show… or at least an off-off-Broadway show in a dog-friendly park.

Building Trust One Bark at a Time

When I first met Old Ben, his expressive eyes had that thousand-yard stare – memories of days past by the clock tower, all the missed treats, and potential belly rubs. And while our therapy sessions don’t typically require a soundtrack, in his case, the distant chime of clocks became a therapeutic background noise. I half-expected him to put on a top hat and do a rendition of “Time is on My Side”!

Now, onto his therapy. We often see physical injuries in our furry comrades, but emotional traumas are harder to spot. Like any therapist, the first thing I did was try to establish trust. I offered Ben my chewed-up rubber bone (which, let me tell you, is a gesture of magnanimity in the dog world). Slowly, I saw the glimmer of trust in his eyes.

Laughter as the Best Medicine

Then, in a eureka moment, and some inspiration from our Animal Control Officer Howlee, I decided to use humor to connect with Ben. I began recounting tales of chasing my tail, barking at non-existent intruders, and mistaking my reflection for another dog. All while in a laid-back, “aw-shucks” vibe. Yes, there’s nothing quite like humor therapy.

One day during our session, the wall clock chimed. It was as if someone had cranked up the volume on a boombox! Ben’s ears perked up, his tail wagged, and he responded with a resonating bark. Suddenly, it struck me – the clock wasn’t just a fixture in Ben’s life; it was an anchor to his identity. Perhaps, in some quirky canine way, timekeeping was his calling.

Finding a New Rhythm

Of course, this revelation had its perks. The shelter had found its organic, furry alarm system. And honestly, who needs a rooster when you have a St. Bernard with a penchant for punctuality?

Though we’d cracked his veneer with comedy and discovered his clock-loving quirks, therapy was about finding his new rhythm. We had to assure him that, while he might have been discarded once, he was cherished now. didn’t want to replace his past but to augment his present.

Ben’s transformation at The Stray Diaries Shelter was heartening. From our sessions filled with clock jokes to helping him embrace his new title as the shelter’s “Bark Tower,” he finally seemed to be in sync with the world around him. Every chime and bark was a reminder of his resilience and the love that surrounded him.

The Symphony of a New Beginning

His adoption was the cherry on top. When the family came in, I couldn’t resist sharing a canine wink with Ben. As they walked out, the ticking of the clock and Ben’s joyful bark merged, creating a symphony of hope, healing, and humor.

In my time here, I’ve realized every dog has its day, and every story, no matter how heartbreaking, can have its tick-tock moments of joy. Ben’s tale is a timely reminder that even when the hands of fate might tick against us, love, understanding, and a little bit of humor can chime us back to happiness.

This is Case File #001 in my confidential case book,

Dr. Spencer Pinscher, RDT

The Real Dog Therapist