Arlette played a pivotal role in Feri’s life. This was how I called my father after my sons had begun to call him like this. I have never really understood him, but helped him a lot when he fell ill with cancer. My mother forgave me to tell him the truth about his disease and I will never get to grips with the fact that I obeyed her. Though I can recall that not to obey her was not really an option. She also tried to interfere when I decided to put Feri on opioids but then I did not give in.
Anyway when he was in pain or had any malaise he always said: ‘give me Arlette’. Then we lifted Arlette and put her on Feri’s abdomen. Arlette of course made a grimace as dogs don’t like to be lifted, that means in their world that they are the victim and this creates an uneasy feeling in them. Anyway in case they trust you they never resist but you can see on their faces that they just feel uncomfortable.
In a strange way Arlette always showed her teeth when she expressed her love then opened her mouth and shut it with a clack. She usually repeated this three times.
She was a great tool in what we call ‘animal assisted therapy’.
