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Barnabas – Barnabas shall be missed by everyone. His memory will never be abandoned as he touched every one who met him. [more...] |
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Bracken – It is with great sadness that I had to let Bracken go over the Rainbow Bridge on July 1, 2010. She was 14 years and 4 months old. She was very active - running in the fields, swimming and retrieving bumpers right up to the end. [more...] |
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Bro – One of OTD's best canine goodwill ambassadors, Bro, a 7-1/2-year-old Golden Retriever, passed away suddenly this summer 2010. [more...] |
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Chelsea – Chelsea was eight years old by the time she started doing therapy work. What a difference it made for her! She learned the word 'work' right away and the question: "Do you want to go to work?" would get her very excited as she danced to the hall closet to await her 'uniform' and leash. [more...] |
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Chelsea – Chelsea loved her work at Briargreen Public School where she listened to children read and comforted them when they were sad. Her time spent with autistic and other special need students made a significant difference in their school experience. [more...] |
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Hero – Hero started life as a show dog. At age 5 ½, his show days were over and he was to be destroyed. A Siberian Husky rescue organization grabbed him and he lived in a shelter for 2 ½ years until I found him. The therapy visits probably did as much good for Hero as they did for the folks we visited. Hero was great at his job, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have shared this wonderful guy with others. He really is my Hero. [more...] |
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Joey – Although he didn't have an easy start in life, Joey came into our home as a perfect gentleman—a little rough around the edges but simply a great buddy with lots of potential. It was like he knew that he was finally home and would be given all the love that he deserves. [more...] |
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Marcus –It is always difficult to put your finger on that intangible quality that makes therapy dogs so special, but Marcus so beautifully expressed it in his partnership with Claire Laroche as a R.E.A.D. team. [more...] |
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Murphee - Murphee, my Bernese Mountain dog girl, was a therapy dog from the first day we brought her home. She came out of the womb a gentle, loving soul that just wanted to be hugged. We spent the last 3 years going every week to the Alta Vista Manor. Every time I got her “Therapy Bag” out of the closet she’d run to the front door and sit down anxiously waiting for me to put her working vest on. [more...] |
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Paugan – Paugan was an energetic Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever; not your usual, placid therapy dog. His work in The Rehabilitation Centre in Ottawa was good match for his personality and talents. For nearly three years, Paugan accompanied me to work on Fridays and assists men and women who have had a stroke and, as a result, have severe communication difficulties. [more...] |
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Roxy - We aren't really sure how Roxy started her life. She was a surprise belated Valentine's Day gift for my Mom (I know, you're not supposed to do that!). We adopted her from the SPCA in Ottawa in March of 2007. She was a lab/collie mix and they claim she was about 5 years old. Roxy was nervous at first; always thinking we were going to leave her. [more...] |
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Ruby – Ruby, my black lab (the one with headlights & sugar lips) and I began our therapy dog work in 1995 when she was just past her first birthday. My nursing background and her unflappability suited us to working in hospitals. Her brother Jet joined the team some years later and works in animal assisted activities visiting in long-term care areas. [more...] |
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Sasha – Sasha was adopted as a 9-month old rescue through the American Belgian Malinois Club. Once a fairly timid little gal, she immediately excelled at obedience training, then thrived in agility. That being said, Sasha was usually most interested in one thing: simply giving and getting attention to and from anyone willing to share. [more...] |
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Sunny - Had I been asked to provide this write-up even a month ago, I would have either declined or drafted a maudlin and tearful account of Sunny’s last days. You see, not only was Sunny my first dog, but she was also an Ann Lambert dog. Let me explain: Sunny came into my life at a difficult time. Since I had no children, and I had wanted a dog ever since I could remember, I thought that this would be the perfect time. [more...] |
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Tobie - She was adopted in October 1998 at about five months old. I was recovering from a lengthy illness and needed a companion to walk with. Since I enjoyed walking in the forest, I chose a dog that would accompany me off-leash and enjoy the thrills of the wild. [more...] |
