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Patti Anderson and the power of the paw

two images of a person with short hair and a dog
Patti Anderson, the Minneapolis VA Health Care System Volunteer of the Month in May, with Liberty, her Siberian Husky. Patti is recognized by her peers for her dedication to Veterans by providing animal assisted therapy sessions.
By Don Checots, Minneapolis VA Volunteer, Air Force Veteran

The Minneapolis VA Health Care System Volunteer of the Month in May is Patti Anderson. If you’ve seen Liberty, the patriotic scarf-wearing Siberian Husky, and her handler around the medical center, you’ve met Patti.

Patti became a school counselor and introduced her first registered service dog, KoKo a Siberian Husky, to the elementary school where she worked. She watched Koko interact with the children for about five years. It was during these sessions that Patti began to see how the “power of the paw” could really help people.

A personal experience as a child cemented the importance of service dogs in Anderson's life. Her father was a Navy Veteran and in 1969 suffered emotional and physical complications which resulted in three months of inpatient treatment. Fortunately, the treatment saved her father and family. Patti was so appreciative of what the VA did for her father, she decided to volunteer at the VA medical center as a way to “pay back” a gratitude of debt. That was fourteen years ago, and she has since partnered with three dogs over that span of time. 

Patti says it is always amazing and comforting to see the interaction between a patient and a service animal. She shares the story of one service dog named Ballad, a small Cairn Terrier. Ballad loved people and really liked having his back rubbed. 

Patti and Ballad were introduced to a patient that was non-verbal, unable to walk, and only had feeling on the bottom of his foot. In a therapy session the patient’s foot was gently lifted up and rubbed against the fur on Ballads back. The patient hadn’t shown any recognizable emotion for a long time but touching Ballad’s fur with his foot resulted in the biggest smile imaginable along with bursts of laughter. The patient’s parents teared up as they watched the little terrier and their brave Veteran connecting with each other. 

Patti regularly teams up with VA staff for animal assisted therapy sessions with Liberty, her Siberian Husky. Liberty is a people lover and can be very talkative.