Loyalty, Service, and Unconditional Love, by Francie Kuehner

As a family, we’ve always welcomed dogs into our lives. Emmy was our second black Labrador, and she came to us as a 12-week-old puppy. Being an English Lab, she was cute, chunky, trusting and calm (which we loved). She made friends wherever she went ─ with family, with neighbors, with random strangers, and with other dogs. She loved posing for pictures and was even included in the book “Hilarious Hounds of the Bay" as well as several videos about pet assisted therapy.

A fellow dog walker referred to Emmy as “a soulful dog” and I think that was just about right. But she did have her mischievous side. I would take a bath every night and some nights she would jump in the tub with me, all 80 or 90 lbs. of her. She probably knew she shouldn’t do that, but she did it anyway, and it made us laugh every time.

Pet Assisted Therapy

Because Emmy was so calm and good with people, I decided we should become certified as a Pet Assisted Therapy team. In 2017, she got her Canine Good Citizenship Certificate, and we took her to PHS/SPCA where she was qualified as a PAT (Pet Assisted Therapy dog). Since we live so close to Sequoia Hospital, we got a hospital certification there and then visited regularly for 2-3 years.

Off to Work

The first time we went to the hospital was a little bit of a challenge. There were slippery floors, elevators, and PA systems that took a little getting used to. But Emmy was a natural and fell right into her therapy role. She had a volunteer badge and a scarf that she wore when she want to work, and whenever those came out, Emmy started to wag her tail in a serious way. She seemed to know that we were heading off to do something important.

Visiting Hours

Every Tuesday, we would go up for an hour to give patients and staff “an Emmy break.” We worked on two floors, the Infusion Center, and the operating waiting room. As soon as Emmy waddled in, the nurses would all come over to say hello and give her treats. When we went up to a patient’s room and asked if they would like a visit from a therapy dog, their faces just lit up. The doctors knew us too and sometimes they would pull us aside and say, “Could you go into room 302? There is a person who really needs a visit.”

Emmy and I befriended many staff members and one patient, who remains a good friend to this day. Then, seemingly in the blink of an eye, Emmy’s health began to fail. The vet discovered a large tumor and she passed away at 8 years old (way too young). She was a very special dog, and those of us whose life she touched will cherish her memory forever.

Goodbye Emmy, Hello Ren

Soon after losing Emmy and still mourning her loss, I started looking for our next dog (I know what you’re thinking but that’s just who I am :-). This time, we decided to rescue an Old English Bull Dog (old being the operative word).

We drove up to the North Bay past Petaluma to meet Ren, and we fell in love with him immediately. He was a senior dog, over half of his teeth were gone, and we had no clue how to care for him, but we left with him that very day.

And Ren settled into his new home quickly. He was very different from the other dogs we'd had but made his mark in his own special way. We took him to the beach many times, got him a stroller so we could take him around the neighborhood, and he soothed our hearts about losing Emmy.

We gave him a great home in his final few months and then one day in May 2023, his heart just stopped and we lost him.

Being Your Dog’s Person

If you're a dog, every moment is worth celebrating. Dogs live in the present and they find pure joy in the simplest things. Wagging tails, zoomies, sloppy kisses, and full-body wiggles all show you how happy your dog is when you come home from work, head off to the dog park, play ball in the yard, or just hang out together. Loyal and overflowing with unconditional love, they are grateful for everything you do for them, and they enrich our lives in so many ways.

So it isn’t surprising that in September 2023, we invited Mazy, another English Labrador, to come home with us. She now completes our family as only a very special dog can do.