

	Featured Story		Dog of the Day

Hannah

Please Note: The dog in the accompanying photograph is the subject of the story, but the person pictured is probably not the patient in the story.

Hannah, a 6 year old yellow lab, has been a Love on 4 Paws Therapy Dog for almost two years. I got Hannah when she was only 6 weeks old. There were 7 pups in her litter, and I thought she would be the mellowest. I was wrong! For the first year of her life, the only time she held still was when she slept. Even then, I was convinced that I could see her grow! Every time she awoke, she was a little bigger, a little stronger, and always in trouble! But by the age of 3, she began to shed a bit of her puppy hood and became the best companion one could ever hope to have. I'd love to assert that she is extremely loyal, but she is so friendly that I'm sure she would go with just about anyone offering her a car ride. She loves to work, fetch a ball, and play with other dogs, but her favorite times are those spent at the ocean. She is a beach girl!

We have had many memorable hospital visits, but one stands out. At Shriners Hospital we had visited a little girl from Ecuador on several occasions. This little girl was 3 years old and had never walked. She was at Shriners to have her legs straightened. During her lengthy hospital stay, Hannah and I had run into her in the halls, being pulled in a little red wagon by her parents. Every time she saw us, she would reach her arms out and give Hannah a gigantic hug. She had no fear --- just excitement, warmth, and love. The day finally came when her casts had been removed and it was time to learn how to walk. But she didn't want to! Accustomed to being picked up by her parents, she cried, begged, and called out to "Daddy" and Hannah in the rehabilitation room. Hannah sat quietly and patiently about 10 feet from the little girl, as she was encouraged to use her walker for the very first time. It took almost 45 minutes, but she did it. She took her very first steps to get to Hannah. The room filled with happy tears and cries of joy, and the little girl was just thrilled that she could pet Hannah and give her a treat.

It's a privilege and honor to be a part of this program.