Day 1605

Gus has been a busy boy! Going to schools, hospitals and senior living venues, he takes it all in stride. Often, he simply closes his eyes as people scratch behind the ears or rolls over to get a good belly rub. Until yesterday, I believed he enjoyed it for the friendly people and treats…then I saw him with new eyes.

We were at a hospital where part of our visit was with troubled teens. Not blinking an eye, he entered the setting as a staff member unlocked the door to let us in. As the door “clicked” behind us, I began to realize these teens needed life-saving direction, therapy and acceptance. As a final member of the group was allowed access, I walked around and let the group of youths (now on the floor to get near to our boy) to pet and enjoy the novelty of a dog amongst them.

When the last young lady appeared, I thought she had been crying. Full of tattoos, piercings, and a hair style that might have made a dog wonder, she sat on the floor and addressed Gus. Admittedly, she had been crying and began to tell the story of her day. Her voice was loud, but her words were soft. Watching Gus out of the corner of my eye, I noticed him “disengage” from the kids on the floor and timidly approach the newcomer. He sniffed for a moment and then crawled right in her lap! A smile replaced the few remaining tears as she hugged him tightly. He just accepted the entire interaction! This was a first.

The girl released him and announced that Gus was just what she needed. Gus looked at the door and I knew it was time to go.

Not since our sweet Lilly, have I witnessed such an empathetic reaction to someone who needed comfort. Gus made the world a better place yesterday and you can’t ask for more ham that!