Serving Crawford County and Beyond
Meet Our Teams
Kali & Molly
FAVORITES
Food: All of it! Especially ice cubes, sweet potatoes, and broccoli
Venue: Meadville Public Library and Vernon Place
Quote: "Eat first, question later (if at all),
Always carry a frisbee,
Every water source needs a Labrador,
Retrieve everything,
If you can’t eat it, roll in it,
Wag, wag, wag,
Love everyone."
Advice: “The last bite of anything you’re eating is legally mine!”
Kali is a beautiful chocolate labrador retriever who loves outings with Molly, a retired music teacher. Molly explains, “She was one of a set of triplets who was born a few hours after the others. Kali was the chubby, quiet one of the litter. She was the second pup I held, and she curled right up in my arms. I knew then that she was the one!” This sweet girl is characterized by kindness, and she is gentle with children and other animals. Kali can also be needy: “I always know when it's time for food, water, ice cubes, and any other things she thinks she needs,” Molly says. This lab’s hobbies include hanging out with her mom on the back porch, chasing her frisbee, and swimming. She also enjoys playing with Millie, a border collie mix. When it comes to therapy, Molly says, “I love seeing Kali giving people comfort. She was meant to do this work - it just took me a long time to realize it!”
Maddie & Sue
FAVORITES
Food: What is my brother's is also mine
Venue: Nursing homes, treatment centers, schools
Quote: "Timmy fell into the well!"
Advice: “If you turn the other cheek, they will pet your rump”
Maddie is a rough collie who follows Sue on adventures all over Crawford County. She has appeared on our local Armstrong TV Channel. Maddie was rescued from a breeder who realized she could not have puppies, and she found her true meaning in life as a therapy dog. Her handler, Sue, makes everyone laugh with the stories of Maddie's picky antics.
Cooper & Cheryl
FAVORITES:
Food: His 7 pm bones. He will not let me forget that it is time for his bone.
Venue: Barco, Wesbury, Embassy and Juniper. We also like special events.
Advice: Don't leave home without me!!
Quote: Oh, the places we go!
Cooper is a Yorkshire Terrier and his handler, Cheryl, is retired. When asked how she got him, Cheryl said “He chose me. I went to pick up another pup from the liter and he nosed right in. Once I picked him up, I never put him down. Called my husband and cried the whole time I was explaining that I found the pup”. Like many small breeds, he is a small dog who thinks he is a big deal. He walks like he is in charge! When he is not doing therapy work, Cooper loves to chase chippy's and go for walks. Another favorite is taking rides in the car. He was once attacked by another dog and lived to tell his tale! He is a feisty little guy. Their favorite part of doing therapy work is spending one on one time with each other, and getting to visit all the residents and patients.
Kody & Sue
FAVORITES:
Food: His sister's food
Venue: Nursing homes, schools, everywhere
Advice: Sleep less, play more
Quote: Are we there yet?
Kody is a rough Collie on a team with Sue, our PHD leader. She rescued him from a breeder and loves his unique look - he has a spike on his head! When they're not promoting PHD, Kody loves running in his backyard with all of his four-legged friends, especially Rockie, Mr. Parker, and Luna. He will steal your heart with his long, handsome face. He has a playful personality and his enthusiasm brightens up the room. Sue leads PHD and loves volunteering her time with this organization, which she pours her heart and soul into. Sue would like to thank all of the wonderful people involved!
Orla & Maria
FAVORITES:
Food: All the meats. She is not a fan of veggies.
Venue: Anywhere and everywhere. As long as there are hands to pet her, she's game.
Advice: Eventually, the ball comes to those who wait, …and wait, and wait.
Quote: Who's the best girl? Me. I'm the best girl.
Life is golden when Orla is visiting! This golden retriever is handled by Maria, who does Library Marketing and Community Outreach at the Andover Public Library. Maria found Orla when the breeder posted live videos of the litter. On one occasion, she moved the pups one by one away from the mom. All the other puppies were crying. Orla immediately started wobbling along to get back to her mom and dinner. That’s when Maria knew that this outgoing girl was meant to be hers. According to Maria, “Orla is eager to please, calm, yet can be very silly. She's just a total sweetheart. Orla loves to see how many toys she can carry in her mouth at one time. Currently, her record is four! She is no match for our older Golden when it comes to athleticism and ball retrieving. However, she is a sly girl who patiently waits for the ball to come directly to her. She then refuses to give it up. It gives her great joy to frustrate her brother.” An interesting fact is that Orla has this tuft of hair that will stick up from the top of her head like a baby shark. She also likes to dance with me or my partner; she will get up on her hind legs and have us hold her front paws to bust a move. Maria adds, “I most enjoy sharing Orla with kids and adults who are hesitant around dogs. Once they meet her and spend a little time with Orla, they fall in love. Changing people's perceptions in a positive way is important to me.” Finally, Orla is Gaelic for “Golden Princess’ but the name can also mean ‘vomit.’ Please don't tell her.
Gus & Carol
FAVORITES:
Food:.Any kind of soft treats especially Sizzlers
Venue: Yolanda Barco Cancer Center, Elementary & High schools, and Juniper Village
Advice: Learning not to bark at people or dogs walking by our house.
Quote: His famous last word “Boof Boof” 🐶
Gus is a Miniature GoldenDoodle, and his handler Carol is retired. There was a litter of miniature goldendoodles for sale and when we saw the picture of Gus with his unique markings he stole our hearts.❤️ He has been a wonderful addition to the family.
Gus has a very loving personality and loves to please you. Sometimes when Gus is in an uncomfortable situation he can be a little timid.When they are not out and about doing Therapy Dog Work, he loves going on walks and running zoomies around the yard. He has very soft fur that people love to pet. The best part I like is that he does not shed!
The-most rewarding part of therapy work is seeing the smiles and making conversation with the people and kids we come in contact with at the venues we attend. Gus and I enjoy working with such a great PHD group of handlers and their dogs!
Link & Jen
FAVORITES:
Food: He likes his steak rare, but he won't pass up a stalk of asparagus.
Venue: Daycare - he is so gentle with the kids and doesn't mind if they squeal.
Advice: Enjoying the simplest things in life can be the best - like naps!!!
Quote: Stop trying to make fetch happen. - (Regina George, Mean Girls)
Link, a rescued pitbull mix, and Jen, an accountant are a great team. He is extremely affectionate to everyone he meets & loyal to his family. His special trait is that he has to have his bone to go to sleep and he sits in a chair at the table like a person. Link’s hobbies include snuggling, napping, and belly rubs. Jen explains, “Watching Link know when a child needs special attention is the best part of dog therapy.”
Mr. Parker & Rita
FAVORITES:
Food: Cheese
Venue: Library, Wesbury, Juniper Village
Advice: Keep critters out of the yard
Quote: Jump around and wag your tail. Owners love that.
Mr Parker is a fluffy Husky/Shih Tzu Mix handled by Rita, who is retired. Rita says “My oldest daughter is a vet in California. A client came in with a pregnant husky. My daughter traded her vet services for one of the puppies. He was born in October 2016 and he flew home to PA with my daughter for Christmas. He was originally called Snowball but I didn’t care for that name so we changed it to Mr. Parker after one of the characters in the program The Pretender. Great Christmas gift! He loves to be petted but when he has had enough he walks away and doesn’t want to be bothered. He is good at breaking up disagreements among other dogs but especially puppies. Loved to run and be chased. He has short legs but boy can he run. When Rita and Mr. Parker aren’t doing Therapy Dog work, he loves to go for walks, chase critters out of the yard, chew toys, and practice what he learns in dog class.A fun fact is he will scratch Rita’s leg when he wants petted. Rita loves seeing the happy smiles on the faces of people when they see Parker walk in. When it thunders he tries to get as close to me as possible because he is so frightened. But the shooting at the gun clubs never bothers him and just runs around.
Ember & Tiffany
FAVORITES:
Food: She loves cheese!
Venue: Allegheny College Students
Advice: "Never ever let your human out of your sight!"
Quote: “The future is ours to___ wait, what’s the future? Never mind, I’m itchy.”
Ember is an Australian Shepherd, and has the cutest freckles on her nose and paws, and is the snuggliest little ball of fluff! She is a velcro-dog, and always wants to be with Tiffany. She loves to hike, run and go to puppy class, but she's also happy to snuggle on the couch. Ember also loves to hike, play with doggy friends, go to puppy class, and just go on adventures. Together, they love giving college students who are far away from their homes and maybe their own dogs some comfort.
Penny & Jen
FAVORITES:
Food: Buttered toast
Venue: Meadville Library, TCU, and IU5
Advice: Life is too short...be kind
Quote: "Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud." —Maya Angelou
Penny is a GoldenDoodle and her handler, Jen, is a Mental Health Supervisor at the IU5. When she first met her, Jen remembers her beautiful "penny" coloring and her calm, gentle personality. Despite her gentle and calm personality, she will let you know where you stand with her facial expressions. She loves going on car rides for a pup cup! This duo loves bringing smiles and joy to others!
Sadie & Patti
FAVORITES:
Food: No particular favorites
Venue: Crawford County Care Center
Quote: “Just let me sleep!”
Sadie is a Flat-Coated Retriever who is handled by Patti, a retired RN. She was adopted at our local Crawford County Humane Society. Patti says they chose each other. Sadie is a snuggler and loves snuggling with her family. Patti loves having a therapy dog, and has enjoyed meeting many wonderful people and pups along the way! She loves the response of the patients she visits, but even more so, how the staff react.
Fern & Danielle
FAVORITES:
Food: All the peanut butter. The whole jar.
Venue: Quiet places
Advice: Adopt, Don't Shop
Quote: "You can read every day where a dog saved the life of a drowning child, or lay down his life for his master. Some people call this loyalty. I don't. I may be wrong, but I call it love--the deepest kind of love."- Wilson Rawls, Where the Red Fern Grows
Fern is a gentle redbone coonhound who was found running the hills of Kentucky. She was rescued from a high-kill shelter by a local group and brought to PA where she met her mom. Fern is a sensitive soul, and the first time she met her tiny feline sister, she belly-crawled and licked the cat's face. She became a certified therapy dog when Danielle brought her to school as part of a research project to determine the impact of dogs in the classroom. She is named after two novels -Charlotte's Web and Where the Red Fern Grows - that celebrate the love and connection people have with animals and each other. Fern's favorite hobbies include chasing the hose and hiking with her mom. Danielle's favorite aspect of volunteering is witnessing the amazing power dogs have in helping people open up and connect with each other.
Cocoa & Debbie
FAVORITES:
Food: Cocoa never met a food he didn't like!
Venue: Cocoa loves every therapy visit, no matter where it is! Some of our regular visits include Juniper Assisted Living, the Meadville Library, Meadville Medical Center, the Judicial Center and Women's Services.
Advice: Just be kind and love everyone!
Cocoa is a Whoodle (Poodle and Wheaten Terrier Mix) and Debbie is retired, but working part-time for Women's Services.
When she saw his "baby" picture with his piercing blue eyes, I knew I had to have Cocoa in my life! He is gentle and loving! He is definitely a "mama's boy", following me around every minute of every day!
Cocoa accompanies me to work at the women's shelter and loves to greet the guests and give them some lovin'! He also loves to play tug and fetch, when not napping!
I'm a people-person and Cocoa is a people-therapy dog! We both enjoy connecting with people and giving them attention!
If you wish to follow Cocoa, he has an Instagram Page - CocoaWhoodle.
Oscar & Julia
FAVORITES:
Food: Cheese
Venue: Meadville Public Library children’s reading hour
Advice: If you quietly stare longingly at someone who has chicken or cheese, they will often share with you.
Quote: Kayak rides are the BEST!
Oscar is a Bichon Mix who is handled by Julia. Oscar is my first ever dog. He was a year old when I met him. A young couple were unable to keep Oscar and his brother. Oscar picked me.
He is very friendly and loves to play ball!
One of his favorite activities is riding in his bike basket at Presque Isle. He smiles the whole time!
Julia loves how children respond to Oscar. He’s completely chill with the ‘littles’ playing with his ears and tail.
Julia would like to add that this has been a long time dream to finally become a therapy dog team!
Star & Stacey
FAVORITES:
Food: There is not a favorite
Venue: Embassy Park Avenue
Advice: Never turn down a good snuggle.
Star is a Border Collie and her handler is Stacey, an Environmental Educator. Star was the runt between two of her sisters up for adoption at the Anna shelter, so naturally, my husband picked her. She always wants to be petted, unless of course, there is a snack nearby. She is jealous of other pets and she is afraid of the dark.
Star’s favorites are sleeping, begging to be petted, and hiking and walking.
If my husband and I hug in front of her, she gets jealous and barks.
Therapy Dog is great, because I love bringing people comfort, if only for a short time, by being able to pet Star.
Remi Skye & Dee
FAVORITES:
Food: Chicken... or ice cream...but chicken.. no- it's ice cream.
Venue: Evans Square seniors, Schools, Library and any place with kids!
Advice: Relax, and enjoy everyday!!
Quote: If it's not fun, don't do it!!
Remi Skye is a Siberian Husky. She is handled by Dee, who is retired. I was interested in a black and white male husky to add to my dog sledding team. When we went to look at my now, Storm Willie, Remi's brother. We met his little sister who was the runt of the litter! She was a red and white husky and I've never had a red and white Siberian. She stole our hearts that day! We just absolutely fell in love with her and brought her home with her big brother. Remi is the sweetest husky ever!! However, she holds her own with the other 3 big dogs that live at our house. She is able to be calm, sweet and obedient when doing her job as a Therapy Dog. But when she gets with her dog family and starts playing she is full of mischief and loves to tease them!! She loves to be the bunny and keep them running, and is always looking to have fun. She's a happy little girl!! 💕 Her hobbies include long walks & playing at the dog park!! And when the snow flies she loves to get a harness on and help pull the sled!! Although Remi Skye loves her dog family, she prefers human companionship and interaction more than anything! She seems to have that special gift that so many therapy dogs have...of reading people's emotions and giving them what they need. Whether it be laying her head on their lap for soft pets or being excited and showing off for the kids!! When I tell her it's time to go to work, she runs over and grabs her red collar and leash and starts dancing around the house squealing with joy!! Dee’s favorite part about Therapy Dog is seeing the interaction between dogs and humans!! And all the happiness it brings to children and the people we visit.
Finally, Dee would like to thank Sue Anderson for inviting Remi & I into the group. And thankful that we have met so many great people and dogs through our organization. When I think of our PHD group It makes me smile! 🥰
Millie & Karen
FAVORITES:
Food: Salmon flavored dry dog food, but she loves treats and Hubbard bone treats.
Venue: Meadville Medical Center on Liberty Street.
Advice: "Stop talking Mom, we have more people to visit."
Quote: "Nighty Night, I'll help you sleep tight, because I'll be comfortable in my humans' bed all night!"
Millie is a Standard GoldenDoodle, and is handled by Karen, a retired teacher.
Karen reached out to a local breeder who was always sharing photos and videos of the puppies and the other dogs she owned. That is how we found Millie.
Millie is calm and very friendly. Her eyes are so expressive! She loves to take walks and she enjoys playing outside, retrieving her jolly ball, which is her favorite.
For fun, Millie used to jump on our trampoline we had in our backyard. The whole neighborhood loved seeing her running around on the trampoline and having the best time.
Karen loves the joy Therapy Dog work brings to all the people and/or kids that we visit. I love how much stronger my bond is with Millie.
Finally, Karen would like to add that she really enjoys being a member of Paws Hand Delivered. “I had retired from teaching school after 35 years, and I missed the social interactions I had each day with colleagues and my students. PHD opened up the door for even more daily contact with people. I feel like I'm making a difference.”
Bug & Debbie
FAVORITES:
Food: He’ll eat anything!
Venue: No favorites
Advice: Love everyone
Bug is a Golden Retriever and his handler Debbie is retired.
They found Bug because their Newfoundland, Isaac, was aging and we wanted to get a puppy. Someone suggested we get a Golden Retriever. Bug is happy, friendly and loves to learn new things.
When Debbie and Bug are not doing Therapy Dog work, Bug’s favorite things are going to classes and playing.
Pepper & Sue
FAVORITES:
Food: Green Beans
Venue: Hospital, Medical Records, Vernon Place and Barco
Quote: Don’t worry, every little thing is going to be alright
Pepper is a Goldendoodle and his handler, Sue is a Retired RN who works part time. He was just a cuddly, furry, loving dog. Pepper rode home in the car beside the driver side window, and leaned against my husband. He is Sweet, tender,acutely aware of surroundings and people and goes directly to those who are most in need but makes sure he gets to everyone.
When Pepper isn’t doing Therapy Dog he likes to swim, fetch, and ride in the car.
Pepper does a Michael Jackson back walk in order to get scratched in his favorite area, low back.
He absolutely loves to do therapy and wakes me up early to get him ready on those days. He is almost 12 and I will continue to take as long as he loves and can do it. Pepper has been the most special dog and everyone loves him.
Jack & Kathy
FAVORITES:
Food: Loves all foods including potatoes, chicken feet, watermelon, chicken hearts
Venue: Allegheny College
Advice: RETIRE TODAY
Quote: Don't worry be happy all things work out in time
Jack is a Siberian Husky and his handler, Kathy is a Health and Physical Education teacher. Jack was born at our home and we bonded together immediately
He is gentle, calm, and gets along with all other dogs. He is very bright and can open our oven and refrigerator!
He likes dog sledding, walks and all the cuddles. When Jack is done running he just sits down and waits to be picked up.
Kathy’s favorite part of doing Therapy Dog is watching the people smile when they see and interact with the dogs. Also, seeing the dogs smile as the people love on them.
Bonnie & Laura
FAVORITES:
Food: She loves whatever everyone else is eating. She’s not picky!!
Venue: Bonnie really enjoyed visiting preschool and hanging out with the kids!!
Advice: Do not leave your food on the table and walk away! It won’t be there when you get back!
Quote: Best Friends Forever!!
Bonnie is an Australian Shepherd and Great Pyrenees mix. Her handler, Laura, is retired.
Bonnie was three months old when we first met her. She had been rescued from Kentucky and brought to Ohio to be fostered with Geauga, Moms and Pups. They were looking for a home for her and we fell in love with her immediately after being introduced to her.
Bonnie is very sweet most of the time. She’s very gentle and lovable with the grandkids. She loves to be around people!! She loves to chase our cats around and play with them and she has 2 other dogs to hang out with.
Laura loves seeing how happy it makes adults and children when a dog visits them. Bonnie gets very excited to see them also!!
Bailey & Ann
FAVORITES:
Food: Anything she thinks you’re eating
Venue: Meadville Adult Library
Advice: Walk more, sit less
Bailey is a 3 year old Goldendoodle and her handler is retired. When she first saw her, Ann loved how cute and cuddly she was. Despite being sweet, she has high energy, is easy going, and demands attention.
Her favorite things to do when she isn’t doing therapy work are going for walks, spending time looking for chipmunks in the wood piles.
Ann loves doing therapy dog visits, because she enjoys talking to people about their dogs.
Happy & Sherry
FAVORITES:
Food: Ice cream
Venue: MMC and Medical Records
Advice: More walks, please, and unleash me!
Quote: “Let’s Go!”
Happy is a 12 year-old Yorkshire terrier. His handler is a retired, registered nurse, who is loving retirement.
She is ashamed to admit that she got Happy at the Millcreek Mall at the insistence of my granddaughter. When the salesman asked me if I had a name picked out, I looked at Happy and said “he makes me happy so I’m going to name him Happy!” and he certainly lives up to his name-he loves everybody!
Happy is an avid hunter-loves chasing rabbits and squirrels. He loves to go fishing and swimming on our pontoon at the lake. He has torn two ACL’s chasing rabbits.
When I retired from the hospital, I really missed my patients, so I thought this would be a great opportunity to get back into the hospital and spend time with patients. And I also get to spend time with my dog doing it. A win-win!
Bella Ann & Frank and Leslie
FAVORITES:
Food: She loves pork rinds and popsicles. She gets a lot of raw things like chicken eggs, feet, hearts, gizzards and livers but her hands down favorite is ground beef!
Venue: Rolling Fields, Wesbury and public events.
Advice: If they stop petting you, just bark until they start back up. Works every time!
Quote: Keep on Truckin!
Bella is a Chocolate Lab. Her handler Frank is Retired from the Department of Corrections (Albion and Cambridge Springs) and was in the Army for 15 years before he was a Corrections Officer. Leslie is a nurse at The Yolonda G. Barco Oncology Institute at MMC.
She was adopted in October 2017 from The Crawford County Humane Society in Meadville. We stopped one day to kill some time and "just look." The staff knew we had been looking for another pup and had one hidden in a back room waiting to be spayed before going up for adoption so they brought her out for us to see. She was only 3 months old and we were her 3rd home thru no fault of her own, just bad timing on the previous owners. It was true love and she went home with us right then and there.
Bella is little Miss Independent. She's not a big snuggler, rarely sleeps in bed with us and would rather go off hunting in the woods than lay by the campfire. She's not super excited to be around other dogs and won't hesitate to tell another dog off if she doesn't like it. However if she likes another dog, like Rocky!! you will see her eyes turn into hearts. The same is with people, she knows her job and will look into someone's soul to comfort them. We've never had her in any kind of training class, she's always just somehow known. She's great with cats, at one time we had 5 in the house with her and she would play with them or ignore them.
When she’s not out doing Therapy Work, she enjoys hunting and killing chipmunks and groundhogs, rough housing so hard with her younger brother Ozzy that it sounds like they are killing each other. Napping on her bed and patrolling the property. She takes her guarding duties seriously.
Bella is definitely unique! She has already had to have surgery on her ACL and is showing signs of needing the other one done. She can recognize "old souls" ie: She's not big on kids, but she is like a magnet on our middle granddaughter.
Frank and Leslie love giving back and showing compassion through Therapy Dog visits. They also enjoy seeing the smiles of the people we visit.
Winnie & Dennie
FAVORITES:
Food: Hank's Frozen Custard
Venue: Vernon Place to visit the medical staff
Advice: Run with the wind!
Quote: "The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog." -Mark Twain
Winnie is a sweet Shetland Sheepdog, or “Sheltie” who was the smallest of her siblings. She has a friendly, outgoing personality, especially when she sees kids. Everyday, she greets patients coming in to her dad's dental office. In her spare time, Winnie loves to catch tennis balls -
so much that we had to buy an automatic tennis ball launcher so she can have fun with it during our dinner time! She also has an important side job: Winnie chases waterfowl off of six docks in Conneaut Lake to help keep the bird poop from collecting on the docks. Dr. Dennie explains, "As you do therapy dog session visits, you can see the tension in the rooms immediately decrease."
Rockie & Bonnie
FAVORITES:
Food: Anything edible
Venue: Anywhere people pet him
Advice: You don't need to clean the house or go to the store, just fine more place to visit 24/7
Quote: Love me, Pet me
Rockie is a golden retriever. He was my brother's dog - they got him when he was eight weeks old. I went over twice a day to let him out and to start training him with basic commands. When he was 18 month old he came to my house when they went on vacation and he had such GREAT TIME at my house so he never went home. They just did not have the time he needed. So he was sort of a rescue. He's an attention hound, and his hobby when he's not visiting is waiting to go on the next visit. Bonnie is a frequent visitor to all PHD venues, and her favorite part is meeting people and hearing their stories.
Scout & Serena
FAVORITES:
Food: He is a big fan of dehydrated chicken.
Venue: Scout loves any place that has kids!
Advice: If at first they do not let you on the couch, try, try again!
Quote: Cats are friends, not food.... but they sure look yummy!
Scout is a German Shepherd Mix and he is handled by Serena who is a teacher. Serena was seeking a puppy with a laid-back attitude and Scout was the runt of the litter and had the right personality for the job.
Scout is playful when he is around kids and other dogs that want to play, and he is as calm as can be in situations where calmness is needed! He loves when we spray him with the hose, and he tries to catch the water in his mouth. He also loves going on walks or runs with the family and never passes up a chance to get in a vehicle for a ride. The thing Scout loves the most is his family :)
Serena enjoys therapy work because she likes to meet new people and to see them happy when they pet Scout.
Leo & Stephanie
FAVORITES:
Food: Sizzlers
Venue: Allegheny College and Juniper Village
Quote: Never stop petting me!
Leo, a golden doodle, has a black mark on the center of his tongue. He was the last dog of the litter and we fell in love!He very gentle and loves attention. He loves taking walks, playing frisbee, and car rides. Leo and I love to see the smiles on peoples faces when they see Leo. It’s great to share the love Leo has for people.
Max & Kelly
FAVORITES:
Food: He loves most foods and does not have a particular preference.
Venue: Linesville Library
Advice: Relax, and let me just lay right next to you.
Quote: "Feed me Seymore!" Little Shop of Horrors
Max was a Lab Mix who was handled by Kelly, an RN and Funeral Director. Many locals in the area where we live "Dump" unwanted dogs and puppies on our road. Max was one of them. We found him wandering along the road and he was very, very tiny. Denny and I picked him up and took him home for a bath and food. The next day we made a vet visit only to find that Max is only approximately 5 weeks old. So, home we went with Max and we realized over several weeks he was no ordinary dog. He would out think us at every opportunity. I had contacted the Bark Park for some help and classes began.
Max easily became everyone's friend at first sight and he loved children and a challenge. He loved relaxing and also finding things to get into.
While at the Library for story time once, one of the children wanted to read Where's Waldo. We were not too sure about the choice of reading material the young man had made but we figured we would wait and see where this choice was going. The young man for some reason could not find Waldo. Max stood up and took a step toward the book and put his paw down on the page that the child was looking at with no success. Lo and behold the child looked under his paw and there was Waldo. The young man was astonished, (and so were we!). He looked at us and said Max really can read.
Kelly loved watching young minds work during her time working with Max. Sadly, Max retired from Therapy work and passed away on Memorial Day 2022. quietly in his sleep.
Ruby & Ron
FAVORITES:
Food: Anything you are eating
Venue: Barco Cancer Center
Ruby was a Doberman, and was handled by Ron who is retired. Ron rescued Ruby after her owner, Ron’s brother-in-law, passed away. She was a typical Dobe and loved water, swimming and playing with her ball. Ruby passed over the Rainbow Bridge in 2015.
McLean & Ruth
He was a tall slim black Labradoodle with a brown mustache, and had a lot of silver in his coat in later years!
McLean was a scruffy little puppy when I first met him. They were both donated to the Canine Partners For Life service dog organization as 8 week old pups. McLean spent his first year at the State Correctional Institution in Albion, being cared for and trained by a group of very dedicated inmate puppy handlers for the Canine Partners For Life service dog program. After his first year, McLean moved to the CPL headquarters south of Lancaster, PA for his advanced training, and then was placed as a service dog with a woman who had MS and needed his skills to support and assist her, but she was also blind, so he was also her guide dog. He was doing well with his “job” of assisting her, but her three small children persisted in interfering with his mission. After repeated attempts by his trainer to correct the situation, McLean was released from the program and that is when my husband, Walt, and I adopted him into our family, in December 2014. McLean often went with me to do training twice a month with the puppy handlers at both SCI Albion and SCI Cambridge Springs. In addition, because he was fully trained with service dog skills, he became my “demo dog” when I was asked to speak at local community groups about service dog work. At home he got along well with our other family dogs, and when I frequently brought pups home from the prisons for socialization (more than 100 of them over the years!) he took on the role of “fun police” if things got too rowdy to suit him! He only had to curl that shaggy lip and give a low warning to bring order to the room!
The first year after we adopted him, McLean went with me to Virginia to participate in three days of “Freestyle Dancing with your Dog” classes! It was super fun, but we never really mastered the skills! More my fault than his!
McLean became registered with Paws Hand Delivered in 2017, and we visited nursing homes, library story hours, high school remedial reading students, and other groups. He was a serious and gentle visitor.
It was an honor to have this distinguished gentleman as part of our family. I will remember McLean forever!