Ralphie may be a small dog, but his owner, Karen White, knows that he plays a big role in improving the spirits of nursing home patients and staff at the Good Samaritan Society’s Denton Village.

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Ralphie, shown Tuesday in Denton, will be featured in an 18-month calendar featuring dogs who live, work or spend time in long-term care facilities. He is a a 4-year-old Shih Tzu.

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White, a resident in Good Samaritan’s independent living community, takes Ralphie to the nursing home every week, and the 10-pound, black-and-white Shih Tzu is a popular visitor in the physical therapy room, she said.

“He’ll sit on their laps, and they can pet him and talk to him,” she said. “Some don’t speak at all, but sometimes they’ll talk to him.”

White recently learned that Ralphie’s talents as a therapy dog will soon be recognized in an unusual way. Staff members at the Denton Good Samaritan Village have announced that he will be featured in the “Caring Canines” calendar being distributed by the American Medical Directors Association Foundation.

“They invited everybody who has a therapy dog to send in a picture and a write-up,” White said. “We got word that Ralphie is going to be included. I can’t wait to see it.

“We’re just real proud of him.”

The Denton Good Samaritan Village is one of about 60 long-term care facilities nationwide included in the new 18-month (2010-11) calendar, staff members said. The calendar recognizes the role pets play in enhancing the quality of life of residents and staff members in such facilities, according to the AMDA Web site.

White said 4-year-old Ralphie was a gift from her son.

“Ralphie came to me by accident,” she said. “My son had him as a tiny puppy.”

White enrolled her new pet in an obedience class offered through the police department in Bridgeport, where she lived before moving to Denton. White said Ralphie then completed therapy dog training.

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Karen White holds her dog, Ralphie, on Tuesday in Denton.

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“He’s been trained to maneuver around all the equipment, walkers, wheelchairs, canes and trays in the hall,” she said

White moved to Good Samaritan a couple of years ago and said Ralphie looks forward to his weekly trips to the nursing home.

“On the mornings that we do go, he knows we’re going, and he gets excited,” she said.

Ralphie seems to fill a special need in the hearts of those they visit, White said.

“You know, a lot of them had to come to this home and leave their own dogs at home,” she said. “It’s sad. Sometimes, it’s heartbreaking.

“I know they want their pets.”

Ralphie also helps boost the spirits of staff members, she said.

“The staff could get very depressed,” she said. “They get a lot out of him.”

The small dog even helps keep her going, White said.

“He helps get me up,” she said. “I have a reason to get up. It would be hard if I didn’t have him.”

As for Ralphie, he seems to be disappointed if circumstances prevent a visit, White said.

“He gets real depressed if we miss a week,” she said.

The full-color calendar is available for sale at www.amdafoundation.org.

Proceeds benefit the AMDA Foundation and its long-term care and aging research projects, according to the Web site.

Lisa Melby, Denton Good Samaritan Village administrator, said it’s an honor to be included in the calendar project.

“We know firsthand the difference animals make in the lives of residents, and we are pleased to be part of a project that spreads the word about the important relationship between pets and people,” she stated in her announcement of the selection.

LES COCKRELL can be reached at 940-566-6887. His e-mail address is lcockrell@dentonrc.com.