Babcock Place residents sit in a circle and lift their legs to Kristine Weinberger’s count while Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” plays in the background. A chorus of oohs and ahhs begins to flow throughout the room.
Weinberger’s sidekick, Binny, a 2-year-old Chihuahua, has just licked his mommy’s face and now he’s nuzzling his head into her neck.
“Ooh,” a participant squeals just as tiny Binny lets out a big yawn. “He’s so cute!”
A similar scene transpires during each of two dozen sessions weekly, according to Weinberger, community wellness liaison for Visiting Nurses Association.
She takes residents’ blood pressure and leads them in chair exercises at eight senior-living facilities across Lawrence. When Binny isn’t napping, he takes center stage. He even has his own VNA name tag that reads “Binny McWonkerton III” with the title “Hooman Happiness Engagement Officer.”
Residents adore Binny. Some attend exercise classes just to engage with the 4-pound pooch.
Andrea Bos, business development manager for VNA, says Weinberger and Binny make a great team.
“She’s added a lot of creativity and ingenuity” to VNA’s wellness sessions and developed relationships with nearly 100 residents since Weinberger started at VNA last year, Bos says. “And then Binny is a fun addition to her repertoire. Really kind of brings people out of their shells.”
Last summer, Weinberger was deeply grieving the loss of her beloved Bre, a Maltese who was rescued from a puppy mill. Weinberger, who has a history of adopting animals with special needs, says she had adopted Bre knowing their time together would be short.
“So she was 16 when they finally gave her her freedom,” Weinberger says. “I had Bre for six months, and those six months were, just … I don’t even know how to express what little Bre was to me.”
When Bre died, Weinberger swore she was done with little dogs. Then fate stepped in while Weinberger scanned the website Petfinder late one night. And there was Binny.
“He was blind, deaf and had hydrocephalus,” Weinberger recalls. “No one would want him. I did.”
Hydrocephalus, an excessive buildup of fluid within the brain, typically leads to a shortened life for dogs and can cause myriad physical and cognitive complications. Binny was rescued from a Texas parking lot, where he was found spinning in circles.
When Binny’s potential adopter decided not to follow through, Weinberger stepped up.
The rescue organization “poured a lot of money into this little guy with medical care. Before, he would just spin in circles. And now he can, you know, when it’s nice out, he can walk. He likes to walk around the park,” Weinberger says.
Babcock residents say they’ve witnessed vast improvements in the little dog, who loves hot dogs and enjoys a McDonald’s hamburger once a week. Residents believe Binny can hear and see them. He roams the room soaking up the scritches.
“She’s done so much work with him,” Rita Adame says. “When he came, he was just a little blob.”
Binny’s med list has been reduced from seven medications to four since Weinberger adopted him.
“I think that Kristine is a real special person for what she’s doing for Binny,” Jane Walters says. “You know, it takes a special person to do that, and I think he’s really coming along.”
Weinberger is a proud mom. She believes Binny has found his life’s purpose, and she’s thrilled residents and coworkers give him thoughtful gifts — sweaters, a sombrero, Happy Meals.
Most importantly, they accept Binny for who he is.
“I’m just so lucky to be a part of this dog’s life,” Weinberger says.
Weinberger hopes to expand her rescue efforts with the Furgetmenot Fund. She plans to officially form a nonprofit organization that will match adoptive families with local hospice patients’ fur babies.
Weinberger recently helped find a new family for Abby, an 8-year-old long-haired Dachshund. She also was integral to helping an elderly Douglas County couple rehome 13 cats. Weinberger worked with social workers and contacts across several community organizations, including Lawrence Humane Society, Care Patrol, Project LIVELY and VNA, to make the matches.
Those interested in contributing to the Furgetmenot Fund or volunteering can contact Weinberger via email at Kristine.Weinberger@kansasvna.org. Follow Binny on Instagram, @bits.of.binny.
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Tricia Masenthin (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at tmasenthin (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
Molly Adams (she/her), photojournalist and news operations coordinator for The Lawrence Times, can be reached at molly@lawrencekstimes.com. Check out more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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