Job the therapy dog sported a red, white and blue bandana on a recent Tuesday visit to a nursing home in New London to match his owner Ruth Bachman's red, white and blue blouse.

He normally comes in some sort of costume, Bachman, 80, said. He prefers McDonald's chicken sandwiches to hamburgers, loves bluegrass concerts and is known to attend church in a tuxedo.

Tuesday, Bachman wheeled Job, who is a mix between a Bichon Frisé and a Lhasa Apso, around in a stroller. She asked residents of Beechwood Post Acute & Transitional Care if they wanted to see Job. It might be their last chance to receive some affection from the 17-year-old dog, who was diagnosed with throat and gland cancer in May.

Residents reached out to rub his ears and pet his head. He attempted to walk once, but his legs gave out after a few steps.

"I don't know what his prognosis is; I hear it is not good," said William Ezell, 87. "He will certainly be missed."

Job provides a great service to the health care community, and Ruth is a marvelous lady, he added.

Rose Brown, 99, said, "I think it is beautiful to have him here and look at him and have him come up to you and he licks your lips."

Bachman, of Waterford, has been visiting Beechwood and other nursing homes in New London County with her therapy dog since 1996. She was named volunteer of the year in July by the Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities, which represents 160 facilities.

"We chose her this year because in spite of her sadness, that her dog was slowly dying, that she still comes and the dog and Ruth still have a positive effect on residents," said Kathleen A. Pajor, president and executive director of Beechwood.

Bachman said people have been drawn to Job his whole life. She got Job from her veterinarian; at 6 months old, Job had survived a car accident and had slight damage to his right eye.

She later read an article about pet therapy and decided to try it out. She and Job have volunteered at more than 10 nursing home facilities in the area, she said.

"I feel so blessed, yes," Bachman said. "It is really rewarding in its own way."

She said there was a man living in the Beechwood facility who didn't talk, walk or do much of anything. So staff asked her and Job to visit him.

"The man looked at Job, pet Job, and he came right out of that spell he was in," Bachman said.

The two also visited a woman with dementia at Beechwood. Pajor said no matter how many people spoke to the woman, she would not talk.

"It wasn't until Job jumped up on the bed and she petted the dog that she spoke a couple of words," Pajor said. "That is how much he as an animal and as a dog has had an effect on dementia as well as hospice patients."

Bachman said that there isn't anything she can do for Job and that she fears he will pass away soon. Staff at Beechwood said they would like Bachman to continue visiting after Job dies.

"But I don't know if I want to," Bachman said as tears filled her eyes.

j.somers@theday.com