KAILUA-KONA — Suzzanne Nemick didn’t own a dog growing up.
The 76-year-old artist, a resident of the Life Care Center of Kona, said her mother didn’t allow her to have a pup as a child, so the first one she owned was a toy poodle when she was in her 30s. Nemick realized then the benefits that can come from having a dog as a companion.
Now, Nemick has another canine friend, as she gets to spend her Thursdays in the company of a loving therapy dog.
Every week, Ernie and Dr. Zee Knapp make the rounds of the Life Care Center of Kona with their certified therapy and service dog Kona Lucky, nicknamed Kona. The 5-year-old golden retriever visits Nemick and the other residents at the facility to offer a smiling face and a calming presence to those who may need it.
“He’s just so friendly, he makes me feel good,” Nemick said. “I really look forward to Kona’s visits.”
“Having Ernie and Kona come is my best day of the week.”
Kona is the grandson of Mordy, short for Mordecai, the Knapps’ former therapy dog, who died in 2015. Ernie Knapp said arrangements were made about a year after Mordy’s death to bring Kona to the island so he could take up the mantle of top dog at various health care facilities in the Kailua-Kona area.
Kona has now been with the Knapps for two years. Ernie Knapp said although Kona’s job is the same as the late Mordy’s, the two dogs have very different personalities.
“Mordy was very mild. Mordy didn’t chase birds and Mordy didn’t chase balls, he was all business all the time. He was real laid-back,” Ernie Knapp said. “Kona’s personality is completely different; he’s completely the opposite. He wants to chase birds, and he has toys that he plays with and he’s very active.”
Kona’s fun-loving nature doesn’t get in the way of his work, however.
“He’s a dog, and he plays and plays and all that, but the minute he walks into a care facility, his entire persona changes,” Dr. Knapp said. “He knows he’s working, and he’s focused on the patients, residents and clients, and immediately they respond to him. But the minute he walks out, he’s Mr. Dog again.”
Kona and the Knapps also spend part of their week at the Kona Community Hospital and the Regency At Hualalai to visit patients there. Ernie Knapp said the effect Kona has on the people around him is significant.
“Most people we see, like when we go to the hospital and go to the psychiatric ward at the hospital, when we walk in, everyone’s really uptight,” Ernie Knapp said. “Then about 10 minutes later, they’re all sitting on the floor, petting him and giving him treats. He’s a very soothing and relaxing influence.”
Kona is both a therapy dog, and a service dog for Ernie Knapp. For a dog to be certified as both a therapy animal and a service animal, the dog must go through two different months-long trainings.
“Service dogs are for people with a disability, so that’s another training on top of (therapy animal training),” Dr. Knapp said. “And it’s a very specific training to fit one person’s specific disability.”
The Knapps said when Kona is off duty, his favorite activities include chasing birds, playing with his toys, eating and swimming in the ocean.
It’s not just the patients and residents who benefit from Kona’s visits — his family finds being a part of his job is a great way to give back to the community.
“I feel that, whether I bring my dog in, or if I help an old lady across the street or help a lady put groceries in her car, I feel that (good deeds) are a part of my life,” Ernie Knapp said. “I feel that if I can help, I will do it if it makes somebody feel good. If somebody’s unhappy, sad or depressed, and I can make them feel good for a minute or two or five minutes or a half an hour, it makes me feel good. It makes me feel younger.”
“This is just a lovely way of volunteering and spending your time,” Dr. Knapp said. “It’s very rewarding.”
The Knapps know Kona enjoys his job as well.
“I think he just loves people,” Ernie Knapp said. “He enjoys people, whether it’s adults or kids, and everybody wants to give him attention.”