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St. John’s on the Lake makes room for residents’ furry friends

Julie Steinbach, Contributing writer

Anyone who’s ever had an animal companion knows just how much joy they bring. Our companion animals play an important and irreplaceable role in our lifestyles and emotions. They help to guide us through life’s many struggles and have been proven beneficial to our health and happiness. 

One challenge we all face is aging, particularly when the time comes to move into a retirement community. It’s a hard choice to leave one home for another, and many seniors must face the decision of whether to take a beloved furry friend with them. 

During such transitional times, having the love and support of a cherished pet can make more of a difference than ever. Just ask the resident pet owners who live at St. John’s on the Lake, 1840 N. Prospect Ave., Milwaukee. There, pets are welcomed with open hearts.

“Your pet sort of becomes everyone’s pet,” says resident pet owner Jack Ford, his curly coated tan pup Casper sitting beside him.

Residents walk freely through the halls with their dogs, take them outside to the outdoor doggie run, and socialize together at pet-themed events. 

“When I walk down the hall, usually people say, ‘Hi, Dexter,’” says Bill Lau, referring to his dog. “They say ‘hello’ to him before they even say ‘hello’ to me!” 

The cat owners also have their special place. One resident walks her sleek black cat Samantha in a lovely red harness during what would regularly be the dog hours.

For cat owner Mary McAndrews, whose cats all have been named after mystery authors, the decision to adopt Josephine was prompted by the hard choice the cat’s former “parent” had to face: Leave Josephine behind with a social worker when she entered senior living.

“Josephine was 8 years old,” explains McAndrews, “and the story that we heard was that she was brought in by a social worker. Her previous owner had two cats and was going into a senior facility that only allowed for her to keep one.” 

To celebrate the bonds between St. John’s residents and their pets, Lau conceived of a touching photography exhibit called the Pet Project. Resident photographers Dan Patrinos, Art Beaudry and Jim Ballard photographed 10 dogs, 14 cats and their owners in their homes at St. John’s. The display of black-and-white photographs features candid shots, portraits and group photographs of residents with their pets.

On a special side display titled Remembrance, photographs of pets who have passed are also included. This touching project is on display at St. John’s until mid-November and is free and open to the public.

The warmth that shines through each photograph evidences the power of pet companionship and the quality of life it adds to the residents and staff at St. John’s on the Lake. The photographs underscore the family atmosphere that St. John’s strives to create for everyone, including those for whom no family would be complete without an occasional “woof!” or “meow.”

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