Million Dollar Pet Pix

Angel, my first therapy dog. In February 1992, in the Stirling paper's “Pet of the Week” column, I saw a picture of a beautiful border collie who reminded me of my old dog, Heidi, that I had just put to sleep. When I saw her, it was love at first sight. She was a real pet, so we named her Angel. She was very submissive and very loving. Although her public demeanor was always angelic, she had a devilish side, too.

She loved to run, and if you took your eyes off her for just a moment, she would be gone, usually taking one of my other dogs with her.
Eventually, sometimes days later, she would return, exhausted, with her partner in crime!

That spring, a friend told me about a local therapy dog group that she had joined, and suggested that Angel and I might like to be involved, too. I knew Angel would be the perfect dog for therapy work so I enrolled her with Therapy Dogs International and we began to visit the Lakefield private hospital. That fall, St. John Ambulance started a therapy dog program, and Angel and I were the first recruits.

In addition to her weekly visits, Angel was the “top dog” in the public relations department, promoting the therapy dog program at malls from Peterborough to Toronto. With her donation box around her neck, she would lay on her back begging passers-by to rub her tummy, the doggy equivalent of selling kisses at the fair! How could anyone resist!

At Christmas, we visited Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, handing out gifts and good wishes to patients who were unable to spend Christmas at home with their families.

Angel would often accompany the founders of the therapy dog program, on visits to Newmarket and other locations where the program was just beginning, to show them the ropes! Angel had endless stamina. Like the Energizer bunny, she just kept going and going.

Sometimes when I was working, other members of our group would stop by my house to collect Angel and go visiting with her. Angel also appeared in local St. Patrick's Day, Canada Day and Santa Claus parades with the therapy dog group, and we were always well-received.

In June 1999, at a St. John Ambulance conference, Angel received a medal for completing 1000 visits. In the summer of 2001, Angel was diagnosed with lymphoma. Her health deteriorated rapidly and we had to put her to sleep within a matter of weeks. In my eyes, Angel was the perfect therapy dog, and I still miss her. There will never be another angel like my Angel. Fondly remembered, always loved.