By Nicholas C. Stern News-Post Staff
James Strohm got his first horse when he was 12. He grew up raising horses; he broke them, and even did a little stunt riding.
"They're good buddies," Strohm said Saturday outside the Montevue Home in Frederick. Montevue is a county-owned assisted living center.
A resident at Montevue for about nine months, Strohm was among the first to take a turn stroking, hugging and kissing Oakmaide Black Satin, the horse that was brought there as part of an ongoing pet therapy program.
Wags for Hope was started in 2006 by Gabe O'Neill with his dog Charlie. The group of about 100 volunteers brings their animals for visits to roughly 25 nursing and assisted living homes and hospices throughout Frederick and Washington counties, as well as parts of West Virginia.
The visits help break up the monotony and loneliness many residents experience, while offering a meaningful activity for the volunteers.
"Interacting with animals makes them forget about their problems and the pain they're going through," O'Neill said.
Saturday marked the first time the group brought a horse.
O'Neill said Wags for Hope volunteer Meg Klackner had mentioned that many of the residents at Montevue were raised on farms, and missed being around horses.
"I thought that this would be a really nice thing," he said.
After a presentation about the group at a local Kiwanis Club, O'Neill said he was approached by Susan Vona, who owns a farm in Union Bridge and was willing to help with a horse.
Lillian Moneymacker, a Montevue resident, stayed by Satin's side for most of her visit. As a young girl, she would ride horses on her grandparents' farm after school.
"I love horses, and she's wonderful," she said.
Tollie York, the activities director at Montevue, snapped photos of residents as they mingled with Satin. She said they appreciate the company Wags for Hope volunteers and their animals bring each week.
"Animals bring out a lot of things people can't," York said.