Page 20 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Spring 2022 - Online Magazine

Exceptional

A "Pearl" SENIORS

of a Girl

Anita Kesler’s

Joy Spreader

by Jane Bromley

nita Kesler has loved her son. He to see such
animals her whole life, had carried an a calm
Abut, as the daughter of a eight-week-old demeanor in
Methodist preacher, she wasn't Goldendoodle in the pup. She
allowed to have an indoor pet. his lap the whole was not even
Her responsible father was afraid way. Wanda and two years
of the damage an animal might Anita drove all old yet. Anita
do to a parsonage. She grew up in the way back to came home
Panhandle and South Plains towns Amarillo with the puppy in Anita's and immediately placed Pearl in
like Ralls and Clarendon before arms. “It was love at first sight,” she therapy dog training.
graduating from high school in reminisced.
Abernathy. Most of Pearl’s training hours were
She named the feisty little puppy at various memory care facilities
After graduation from McMurry Azure Pearl and recalls how and schools. She has since visited
College in Abilene, she taught challenging the first few months retirement homes, churches, and
school for many years – 23 of them were with the funeral homes.
at Dumas. In 2004, she moved back new baby. She does lots
to Amarillo to help take care of her “She was into of tricks for
mother, which she did for 13 years. everything, her admiring
By then, she had border collies who especially audiences
kept her mother company while socks, paper, and will try
Anita was at work. After her mother and mud!” anything for
died, Anita moved in with her Thankfully, her favorite
sister Wanda. Wanda had lost her Pearl outgrew treat – a carrot.
husband; their mother was gone; that puppy She has been
and Anita had also endured the loss stage and no requested
of her beloved border collies. longer tears for birthday
things up, but parties and
About seven years ago, Anita’s son, she still loves is a favorite
a Special Ed teacher in Colorado, her stuffed at the Turn
thought it was time for his mother animals and makes sure to have one Center, a rehab facility for children,
to have a new furry friend. She in her mouth whenever someone where the parents enjoy her, too.
wasn't enthusiastic because it had comes to the door. Pearl has even been to WTA&M, at
been so difficult to lose the border the request of a professor, to help
collies. But, just before Christmas On a trip back to Colorado to visit students calm down before finals.
in 2014, Wanda and Anita drove Anita’s son and his high school Her favorite outreach is at the
halfway to Colorado to meet Special Ed class, they were amazed

20 Amarillo Senior Link