While there are still missions to be accomplished and hurdles to leap in the greater Portsmouth area, there is massive progress being made all over by everyday people who are either providing a service, volunteering, serving in office, or donating. We frequently hear that we are in a renaissance, as new developments continue to pop up, new events are added to the calendar, and progress is made. But why? These things don’t manifest themselves.

In a weekly column, for one year, I plan on writing about a different member of the community who strives to make this renaissance go. I’ll be highlighting business owners, volunteers, faith-based leaders, professionals, and volunteers.

I am column five into this journey, after highlighting four individuals and one couple. I am, once again, writing about two individuals this time, which, while unique, isn’t even the most interesting part of this duo.

They aren’t married, they just share similar responsibilities. Additionally, between the two of them, they have eight legs and aren’t human. That’s right, this time I’m writing about Yeti and Ray, two of Southern Ohio Medical Center’s (SOMC) goodest working boys and best volunteers.

Ray is a Goldendoodle and has been a staple in the SOMC family for eight years.

Yeti, a Great Pyrenees, is a bit newer to the family but has quickly made himself at home within the buildings of the hospital.

When I began making list of all the people to include in my 52 columns, I quickly realized that not all community volunteers are people. There are police dogs, service animals, and more. Who better to recognize than the two SOMC volunteers who prance around the hospital to greet those lying in Hospice, provide a good vibe check for hardworking staff, and to let the sick have a moment of respite to pet them and take their minds from the woes they are facing?

Muhammad Ali once said, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth” and these two pups prove you don’t even have to be human to pull your weight.

Ray, 11, is a Goldendoodle who has been volunteering as a Hospice dog for eight years. He was purchased by the hospital, but they allow him to be cared after by Jenni Smathers, because previous Hospice dogs were oftentimes depressed. He works all day and spends his evenings and nights with the Smathers Family. The change worked, producing a happy, lovable pup who spends his days caring after those receiving Hospice services.

“He is part of our family; I can’t imagine life without him,” Smathers said. “He is a sweetheart but slowing down a little. I keep waiting for them to tell me he needs to retire, but he isn’t there yet and still looks forward to getting in the car every day to go to work.”

Smathers and her husband both work for SOMC, so the family is heavily involved in the hospital.

“I think he has brought such joy and comfort to Hospice. Somehow, dogs know when people are sad— whether that is at home or at Hospice,” Smathers said. “He has this big head with beautiful brown eyes and just lays there on people’s laps. It is like he knows when they’re upset, and he is just there for him.”

Smathers recalled one instance where Ray made a special friend.

“I used to work in Hospice, myself, and we once had a little patient who went in every week for respite. She was a little lady who loved dogs,” Smathers recalled. “Whenever she was there, he was with her. She specifically requested that Ray be there when she received services. He made it easier on her.”

According to Smathers, Ray’s hobbies, while not working, are mostly sleeping and recouping from his busy days. She also said he has an extreme affection for bully sticks.

“He is tired when he gets home, just like we are. He comes home, has dinner, and goes to bed early just like we do,” Smathers said. “However, every morning, he is so excited to leave. He is always at the car before we car, telling us to hurry and open the door.”

Smathers said that Ray is instrumental in the fabric of Hospice and a part-time family member to those who are regularly there.

When asked what Hospice would be like without him, she explained, “I think it would be a terrible absence, for the nurses and the patients. Especially the nurses. He has been there just as long as some of those who work there. I think he or any dog are a crucial part of that fabric and philosophy of that care.”

Yeti is the younger of the two dogs who volunteer, born from a litter of nine brothers and sisters. The eight-year-old volunteer is highly qualified, having passed his Canine Good Citizen Test, certified through Love on a Leash, and certified as a Trick Dog Novice and Canine Good Community certified dog.

He started his efforts six years ago in Hospice, when mom Catherine Del Valle, who is a Spanish teacher, realized Ray was unavailable weekends and evenings, due to his banker’s schedule. Yeti was then requested in the inpatient rehab, on the floor to greet employees, and then even at off-campus locations.

“I was already training Yeti and we were looking for a place for him to volunteer and a friend of mine was in Hospice,” Del Valle explained. “When we would visit in the evenings, there wasn’t a therapy dog, because of Ray’s schedule. We thought it would be nice to help during Ray’s off hours.”

Valle contacted the hospital and Yeti was put to work to provide more therapy dog coverage.

“He loves it. We can be at home and the second I ask ‘Do you want to go to work?’ he lights up,” Del Valle told the Times. “Even when we drive by one of the hospitals, if we don’t stop, he gets disappointed, because he knows those areas and he loves volunteering.”

Smathers said he has a big impact on the hospital.

“His work changes the mood of everybody. Everybody is smiling and in a better mood and does provide support,” Del Valle said. “I’ve had nurses glee with joy and then just lean on him, telling him they’ve had a rough day. He provides comfort and affection to the staff and everybody he meets.”

Yeti also provides therapy support for other places, such as Shawnee State University, where he greets students unsure of their surroundings at Weekend of Welcome or during stressed final exam weeks.

Of course, the patients always benefit most from Yeti’s interactions. Smathers recalled one moment that will live with her forever.

“I remember, one time, we were in Hospice and there was a little girl who had a grandparent in care. She was in a playroom, taking a break. She was sitting on the floor and Yeti walked straight over to her and she hugged him,” Del Velle explained. “I could overhear her in there talking to him in ways that maybe she couldn’t with others. She was telling him, while giving him pets, that her papaw was in the other room and they said he is going to Heaven and won’t be there with her anymore. She was just talking to him like he was a person, and he was sitting there letting her talk, pet him, and looking like he was listening to what she had to say. Moments like this keep me going.”

Smathers explained that it isn’t just patients and family, but nurses will often release floodgates of emotions and stress when they see him.

All of this work has made him quite beloved by staff. Smathers recalled one moment when he was ill and not visiting the hospital. The hospital called to check on him and when they learned he had been under the weather, his mom began receiving gifts.

“I was receiving all of this mail addressed to Yeti with me as the c/o. He was getting so many get well soon cards,” Del Valle I read every card to him and you could see on his face it was like he understood people were caring for him. He is so appreciated.”

Just like Ray, Yeti sleeps a lot to recover from his busy days. He also has a strong affection for food—all food.

The two released a joint statement on their work, saying “Woof, woof, bark, woof, woof, woof!”

It is comforting to know that, when sickness hits, or when tired nurses need relief from a busy and hard day, they get a friendly one from a wet nose and fluffy face, that Yeti and Ray are there to provide unconditional love and support for those who need unbiased care the most.