Hand and Paw volunteer wins award

By: Mike Royer | Alabama's13.com
Published: April 28, 2009

In the past, we've featured the local organization called Hand and Paw. Recently, I did a story about Nena Moon and her dog Ellie. They've worked together for 7 years now, providing comfort and companionship to children who are battling life threatening illness.

A couple months ago, many of you went online and voted for Nena and Ellie for the Beyond Limits Award given by the Delta Society.

Well, they won. And as you might guess, Nena Moon is happy… and humbled, too.

Nena Moon and Ellie are pretty good at making new friends, like with little Cameron. It's what they do. Ellie’s favorite trick is to show a child how she can follow a trail of Goldfish treats.

Most of the time Nena and Ellie ca be found working with children at the Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB Hospital. They provide a calm and friendship that frightened children need.

Nena remembered one little girl who was having difficulty waking up after being put to sleep for treatment.

"So, I put Ellie on the gurney with her and I told her that Ellie was waiting on her to wake up and without opening her eyes, her hand crept down until she felt Ellie, and as soon as she did, her eyes flew open and she was wanting to give her some treats."

Then came word last week that out of all of the volunteer teams in the country, Nena Moon and Ellie would be presented with the Beyond Limits Award.

"hand and Paw has I believe now close to 100 teams who daily are making the same type of visits and impact on our community,” Moon said. “Every day of the week there's a Hand and Paw team somewhere serving."

Nena and Ellie make quite a team. It takes a special person and a special, extra-smart dog to do what they do...and do it well.

"She's so smart and you'll find this with all the Hand and Paw dogs,” Moon said. “When you put their collar and their scarf on them, they know they're going on a visit. She'll actually go to the door by the garage and wait for me. She knows it's time to go to work."

Nena Moon said her and Ellie’s recognition with the Beyond Limits Award is really recognition for all the teams that do what they do each and every day. It's a prestigious award worth every Goldfish treat you can hand out.