I began this month at the Armed Forces Retirement Home with my veteran friends. I love spending time with the people there. They have become friends who we see month after month. I’d love to tell you about each and every one of them, but they are superheroes so I have to keep their identities secret… shhh! I did some tricks, took a bow, and did a very nice “lap.” A new therapy dog joined this time. Her name was Mariah; she is a beautiful golden retriever and I love her!
Therapy dog class this month was great! I learned to ask permission from my handler to take food from those I visit. I am working on how to read! I also was surprised because my friend Bailey, a Red Cross Walter Reed therapy dog, came and she is not normally at Hero Dogs, Inc. HQ. I practiced being polite and not sniffing her. I even watched my friend Radar wag his tail a lot! I just love my therapy dog friends!
I visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) this month. I visited with Timmy the French bulldog, Rosebud the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and Rika the German Shepherd. We visited the inpatient hospital and I met with some great families. One family was very new to the hospital and needed a calming presence, so I went over and laid my head right on the bed. I knew the patient was feeling overwhelmed and I just wanted to lend a helping paw.
Easter was this month, or as I like to call it, “Bunny & Egg Day!” Amigo, my little Havanese uncle, came over to stay for the weekend. A social media service dog friend painted me on an egg, we dyed hard-boiled eggs at home, and I even got to eat some! Amigo got to wear a bunny costume and I wore my bunny ears. We went over to my grandparents’ for dinner and I got an Easter basket! It had a bunny, an egg, a carrot, and a bandanna! I had so much fun with it! My mom and dad got me a bunny too! It was so much fun to play with Amigo the bunny dog!
The next day I had my annual exam at Brookeville Animal Hospital. I sure do love going to the vet… who doesn’t? They give you yummy treats! First, I went and did “place” on the scale, and the vet tech said she wished all her patients did that so well. Next we went into the exam room and went over my health. Then I went with the vet tech to get my blood taken to test it for things… or maybe they are vampires; who knows.
I went back in the room and waited for the doctor. She came in and I was so happy to see her! I stood nice and still while she examined me. I even laid down for part of the exam. She said I was the perfect weight! It was time for my shots, and I couldn’t wait because shots means TREATS! I got two shots… one burned a bit and the other medicine I got to eat! Yum! Dr. Kane rewarded me with many treats afterwards and I was so happy. I went home with some new medications for my allergies. I don’t mind pills because they always come with yummy food!
We had another board meeting this month and again I settled nicely under the table.
My family and I celebrated my fourth gotcha day! Four years ago this month my humans picked me up as a tiny yellow pup! They started training me to become a service dog and thought one day I would grow up and move out! Well, I had other plans! I have severe allergies, and my humans knew I would love to continue to work in some way, so I became a therapy dog! I just love my life with my humans!
At the end of the month we had the Hero Dogs quarterly meeting. I met the newest recruits Zeke and Tahoe, two boy black Labradors! We went over what the life of a kennel dog is like (alas, I will never know) and we worked on how to behave at the vet for our checkups, which I have down pretty well. We also discussed where the other dogs are on their journeys. I am so proud of all my dog friends! Between having new medicine and the meeting I was sooo tired!
I have been enjoying my walks to our neighborhood pond this month. I like getting out and seeing new sites. I also have been really snuggly lately, laying in my humans’ laps or laying on my back to get belly rubs. I guess as I get older I get more snuggly!
