 |
|
<
RETURN TO
MAIN CONTACT SILENT MOON BOOKS PAGE |
|
|
Speakers address the
power of animals
By Lindsey Nelson of the Whitefish Pilot
There will be two very special
speakers on March 7, at 7 p.m., at the Whitefish
Library. One of them can't actually talk, but is the
inspiration and motivation of the speaker.
The speaker is Barry Schieber. His Bernese mountain dog
Moritz will accompany him. Moritz is a very special dog
that Schieber found himself buying when he was sick in
Switzerland.
"I had never thought of owning a dog, any dog-let alone
one that will soon tip the scales at over a hundred
pounds," he writes in his book "Nose to Nose-A Memoir of
Healing."
Once home, wherever they go, Moritz draws people to him.
Sensing something therapeutic about Moritz, Schieber
came upon a way to share this quality with others.
Schieber volunteers weekly at local hospitals, taking
Moritz around to cheer the patients up.
Through this interaction, Schieber wrote about his
experiences and acknowledges the healing power of
Moritz.
In the endnote of Nose to Nose, Schieber writes:
Oblivious to the obvious, I never realized until writing
this book how much Moritz changed my life. His happiness
is contagious, and is an anti-disease that helped me to
heal. Perhaps, I did not realize his effect on me, as
others may not as well; he does not really "do"
anything.
He is calm, joyful, patient, open to life.
In the morning, I wake up and greet him, "Hello Moritz,"
and his tail beats the carpet - seems like nothing much.
Strangers stop to talk to him and we have a chance to
talk, nothing much. Children run to pet him, nothing
much. Patients ask to see him again . . . and so it
goes.
Before long, I am overwhelmed with gratitude to be once
again reunited so intimately with life.
Thank you, Mortiz.
Schieber is constantly reminded of how Moritz is a "very
happy being" and wants to share that happiness and
encourages others to do the same.
He said the main reason for the lecture Monday night is
to let people know that their wonderful animals can heal
as well.
"It doesn't have to be just dogs, there are cats,
horses, any animal can bring a lot of joy to people that
need a little healing, and in a variety of ways" he
said. "Many people have animals that are outstanding. I
basically want to inspire people to get their pets
involved and the community involved. My story is an
ordinary story with an ordinary dog," he said.
Moritz may be an ordinary dog, but he has
not-so-ordinary fame.
On Schieber's web site, he shares the "small world"
stories that he and Moritz have experienced.
Locally he recalls a time he was in Glacier and a park
ranger was giving tourists a tour and spotted Moritz and
yelled, "is that Moritz?"
She ran over and talked to Schieber and Moritz and got
her picture taken with the dog.
This is just one of the many "spottings" Moritz has
witnessed.
"He has a presence, and that's his gift," he said.
Reporter Lindsey Nelson can be reached at
photo@whitefishpilot.com.
© 2005, The Whitefish Pilot. |
|
|
|
|
TOP OF PAGE |
|
 |
Wonderful photos of Moriz and the
places Barry and he have visited. |
 |
Moritz and Barry often receive
letters from readers, patients and teachers who have
been affected by Nose to Nose and pet therapy.
|
|
|
|
