Meet Mika-Our Massage Therapy Dog

Lisa Ledford is the LHAA Placement Specialist and Executive Assistant.  Her puppy Mika is the newest member of the LHAA staff (so to speak).

After the loss of our beloved pet in November, I thought I didn't want another dog, that lasted about a month, in December we decided to get another pup.  A friend saw an ad in the paper for AKC Shih-Tzu pups; I made the phone call, found out there were three litters: one 11 weeks old, a nine weeks old litter and another that was seven weeks old.  Everyone kept asking, "How will you pick her out?  which litter are you going to choose?'  My Answer was, "I will let her pick me."

The night came to go pick up my baby...I get to the breeders home, excited and a little nervous.  We go out into the kennel and she placed all of the females out in the middle of the room, there were a total of five females.  I would have brought them all home with me but my husband gave me strick orders...only one!  We talked for a few minutes and she asked if I had picked one out yet, I told her, "No I want her to pick me."  All five puppies were across the room, I said "Ok whoever is going home with me, let's go!"  Well they all go on playing except one, the smallest of the bunch, and here she comes flying across the room.  I picked her up, talked to the lady a few more minutes and commented that I really was hoping to get one that was a different color, not the smallest, etc...so I put her back down to play and she trotted off.  We talked a few minues, finally i said "I have got to get home, whoever is going with me, let's go!"  Again all of them ignored me except for the same little puppy.  Clearly she was going home with me, I should have known right then and there that SHE was the boss and I would do whatever she wanted.

I had already gotten permission from Bill (Lexington Healing Arts Academy's Executive Director) to bring her to work with me so I could train her as long as she was crated.  I'm not sure who was more excited and anxious for her to come to work on Monday, me or the the rest of the staff.

Monday morning we get to work, I placed a playpen in my office and Mika took over LHAA.  She immediately claimed the hearts of all the staff, faculty and students.  She is a natural born healer.  Several members of our OHANA (family of work) had suffered a loss of some form; she brings love, laughter and healing to everyone she meets.

Each morning we come into our office, she has taken it over and lets me work there too.  We go outside for a morning walk and then check in with the Clinic building, where she visits with Holly (and she must have her Holly time), the receptionists, and greets the morning massage and yoga clients.

If you haven't yet had the pleasure of meeting Mika, be sure to ask for her at your next massage or yoga class, she would love to meet you and give you puppy kissed, if she isn't napping of course.