Diva is my 4 year old tri color Pembroke Welsh Corgi. She replaced my first therapy dog when she retired. Diva competes in agility trials 2-3 weekends a month and is a very high energy, high-drive dog, but when she goes to Bethesda North Hospital or Ronald McDonald House she morphs into this wonderful therapy dog that wants to meet and greet everyone in sight! She started her work at the age of one and as time has passed she definitely feels that she rules the hospital. Everyone knows her name! She seeks out her favorite nurses as she makes her rounds. Her jaunty attitude brings a smile to patients and staff alike.

We have many fond memories of people we have been priviledged to visit - The lovely young woman who had undergone her third surgery for breast reconstruction due to breast cancer said we made her day - wow did that every make us feel good! Or the time we got a call from the volunteer office asking if we could visit a dying patient who had requested the dogs. Or the time a family was saying good bye to their loved one and asked us into the room as he was such a dog lover - they said this made it easier for them to say goodbye. The instances are many and so rewarding - we love this work and look forward to each and every chance we have to do it.

My dog Nelson, the red and white Corgi, is only 16 months old and brand new at therapy dog work. The first trip to the hospital he was a little nervous as he tried to figure out what was going on. By the third trip he had settled into his work beautifully. He was so comfortable that he stretched out beside this lady on her bed, snuggling comfortably into her covers with his head in her lap! She was thrilled as she was missing her 3 Pomeranians at home. He is such a loving dog and will be wonderful at his new job. He particularly enjoys going into the rehab area where he encourages the patients to use their damaged limbs by making them reach just a little further to pet him or walk one more step toward him. He loves children and will do pre-school visits which are such fun for the kids and the dogs too!