Happy Tails: Pooch with a Purpose

Sadie had a hard time warming up to people after being underfed and neglected before she came to Shepherds Crossroads in Lynchburg, Tenn. Pat Rivera of Gardendale, Ala., adopted Sadie after seeing her listed on Petfinder.com and was determined to break through the barrier of aloofness the dog had firmly in place. "Sadie didn't know how to play and would simply sit and longingly watch the neighborhood children," Pat says. She took the dog to obedience classes to increase the human/dog bond between them. "We also tried agility, which she had no interest in, and her couch-potato ways soon put an end to my dragging her on morning runs." But Pat still didn't give up; she saw the dog's potential. "Her unusual calmness and love of children led us to Hand-in-Paw, our local Delta Society affiliate for animal-assisted activities," Pat says. They became certified, and last year, Sadie "offered over 45 hours of love and attention to hospitalized children and their families, nursing home residents, and community-based educational programs." Her proud "mom" adds, "In her role as a 'therapist,' Sadie has blossomed with new-found confidence, proving to me that every dog has a purpose." Shepherds Crossroads lists its pets at http://shepherdscrossing.petfinder.com.

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