In Memoriam

Handler: Elaine Diver

June, 2008 to August, 2024

Maggie was an amazing Yorkie who started pet therapy in March of 2011 and retired in March of 2022. There was no venue she didn't enjoy; she went to them all. Maggie was a true sweetheart. She was such an asset to our club and worked so hard for so many years. She loved her human, Elaine, and wanted to please her. She was a Therapy Pal treasure and an early pioneer of the club. Thank you, Elaine, for sharing her and for the thousand or so visits she made to bring joy and comfort. Now, it is her turn to play and feel good again.

When Maggie joined Therapy Pals, she met Sam, who was the founding dog of the Club, and they became inseparable Yorkie buddies. We are sure Sam welcomed her today as she crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Thank you, Maggie, for touching our lives in so many ways.

Handler: Becky Slanker

July 2, 2024

On July 2nd, we lost our beloved Gus, a very beautiful, calm German Shepherd. He loved his human mom, Becky Slanker and he was happiest pleasing her. Whatever Becky wanted him to do, whether it was scent work or obedience shows, he excelled. They represented Therapy Pals from January of 2017 until 2024. He worked in the elementary school in Krum and at the Krum library most of the time, as well as other venues like the Argyle schools. He loved kids and he would be so attentive to their reading to him. Gus experienced different therapy venues, but his heart belonged to the reading program. Future school years will not be the same at the Krum elementary school as Gus will be truly missed by the kids and teachers. He has gone to join his GSD predecessors and his Therapy Pals. Gus, you did a wonderful job. Thank you Gus, and thank you Becky for sharing him.

Handler: Nancy Turner

November 2023

Our sweet, sweet Peruna passed November, 2023. This little soul belonged to her sweet mom, Nancy Turner. Nancy and Peruna became a Therapy Pal team in April of 2014. They faithfully served the community for nine years. Peruna was a small, quiet black colored Chow/Retriever mix. One might not notice her quickly due to her sweet Chow-like reservedness. However, if noticed or called upon her retriever friendliness “came out” in full charm!

She shared her mom’s love for library work. Nancy and Peruna helped to start the South Branch library visit and served it well until Peruna’s illness prevented her participation. It was always such a joy to see Nancy sitting on the floor with Peruna even when chairs were available. Both quietly listened to children read from their little books. Their dedication to Therapy Pals’ reading program was outstanding.

True to both Nancy and Peruna’s personalities, when it came time to leave their service to the library, they quietly passed their leadership role to Sharon and Charlie. Peruna had the meekness “to inherit the earth” and she made her gentle, quiet mark in this world bringing joy and comfort to kids through the reading program.

Peruna left us but her spirit will always be at the South Branch library in Denton. Thank you, Peruna, for a job well done.

Handler: Pam Petty

November 3, 2023

Gus had a big head which matched his big heart! Gus started his training with an attitude which matched his size! Pam and Gus worked well together; after figuring out Pam was the boss, he became one of the sweetest, most mellow “big guys” one would ever want to see. He was good with other dogs, he showed his love for humans and he enjoyed pleasing his “human mom”!

Gus showed in AKC events and received his Rally Excellent title. Gus was also an excellent “demo dog” at the Tuesday night training classes for G. T. Dog. He would sit and let dogs walk around him who would want to bark at him. He enjoyed showing off his skills with a calm demeanor as if to say: “doesn’t every dog do this?” As a Therapy Pal, his favorite visit was going to the juvenile detention center. The kids loved his big size and gentle nature. He became a favorite very quickly. He impressed most humans because of his large stature and his big head to be such a Sweetheart to all he met.

Gus graced us with his presence from October 2, 2013 to November 3, 2023. He will be remembered as a “gentle giant” for sure. He deserves to be recognized for the service to G.T. Dog in training and for his therapy work in Therapy Pals. Thank you, Gus, for a job well done. You may now play with those Therapy Pals who preceded you at the Rainbow Bridge.

Handler: Elaine Diver

July 23, 2023

Callie became a Therapy Pal officially January 7, 2023. She was with Elaine for one year and twenty days and during that short time made ninety-four therapy visits. She was able to give so much love to others while demonstrating her special love for her caregiver. She cuddled with her special human and conveyed in her own sweet way that she was bonded forever. Her outstanding quality of meeting humans made an impression as a perfect example of how to greet humans for all Therapy Pals to copy. She found love to receive and she gave love to all who knew her. Callie, you did good!

Handler: Robin Banes

April 2, 2023

Lady joined us as a ‘senior’ and finished her career with 35 official Therapy Pal visits.

Robin Banes took into her home and heart a wonderful senior cattle dog named Lady. Cattle dogs are meant to have a job and even as a senior, they want to work. Robin worked to allow her to become a Therapy Pal in August of 2021. Her name was Lady but she quickly lived up to her aka name of Princess Sparkle! It wasn’t easy for Lady to serve UBH as it required Robin to transport her in a wagon and build stairs for her to get in and out of the little wagon. How proud and happy Lady was to serve as Robin pulled the wagon towards patients for her to visit. Lady’s face would literally light up when she saw the patients. She was always eager to see her patients and she appeared to be smiling most of the time. She loved being a Therapy Dog as she was still able to work. She may not have been able to round up cattle in her senior years but she found the thrill of bringing joy to patients. Her face did seem to sparkle with delight as she worked to bring joy and comfort to those who met her. She was true to her breed of being a working dog until the day she went to join other Therapy Pals across the Rainbow Bridge. Robin gave a senior dog a wonderful, purposeful life until she was ready for her next adventure on April 2, 2023. Thank you Robin for accepting a senior dog into your life and for helping her fulfill her God Given purpose of working to serve others.

Handler: Harriet Tunnell

December 13, 2022

Candi, a beautiful Golden Retriever, was trained early on by Kathy Ingram who showed her for her AKC titles of CGC; CGCA; CD; RN; RI; RM. Harriet helped her obtain her THD title which she loved.

Candi became a therapy dog on April 7, 2013 and she was able to serve through November, 2022. She made five hundred and twenty Therapy Pals visits officially plus many doctor visits with her mom. Candi loved to see other Therapy Pal handlers because she knew they were “packin’ treats” and she loved her four legged Therapy Pals. She had happiness to share with anyone she was able to visit. Everyone said she was a happy dog! We know she will happy to be reunited with Sam, who started Therapy Pals. You did good, Candi. You will always be remembered by your smiling, happy face!

Handler: Cathy Hull

July 29, 2022

Moxie was a very special Aussie-Doodle, born 4/28/11. She was a petite dog for her size and such a lady! She was the first Aussie-Doodle many of us had ever seen and what a glorious example she was for her designer breed! She started Therapy visits at age 4 and did lots of visits over seven years, her favorite being the JDC. Working as a Therapy Dog gave her purpose and she loved all the attention.

Moxie was known as a Diva! She was very well mannered and gentle especially when offered treats. She was rather shy and known best for how she introduced herself to people she met. While it looked like she was offering to give a “shake my paw”, Cathy always thought it looked more like, “Please bow & kiss my paw!” She was always elegant in her demeanor. She loved her Therapy Pal friends but if one was too loud or playful, she would try to reprimand them politely. She was her precious, totally unique self and we will miss her terribly.

Thank you Moxie for your service to humans as a wonderful therapy dog! Well done.

Handler: Tracy Colburn

March 2022

Nico was a beautiful, sweet Golden boy who visited a lot at UBH and led the group at the Corinth Academy. Tracy Colburn drove him for his visits; they were a delightful, treasured team of Therapy Pals. Tracy and Nico served Therapy Pals from 2015 until our Covid-19 shut down in March 2020. Candi and other female Goldens always thought Nico was one hunk of a Golden! He was so majestic when he entered a room. His ninety pounds demanded attention, and this gentleness always melted his admirers.

Team Nico, you served your community and humanity well. We will miss you.

Handler: Harriet Tunnell

2005 – 2020

14 1/2 Years of Therapy Dog Service

Over 1000 visits with Therapy Pals

Titles: CGCA THDD CD RN RA MA

In loving memory of the amazing little dog that started it all, the founder dog of Therapy Pals.

Sam started in a class of four dogs and handlers. During his tenure, Therapy Pals grew to sixty-four dogs and handlers.

Handler: Sheila Flanagan

2008 – 2020

Gamegards Trinity Quanah Parker

9 Years of Therapy Dog Service

Titles: CGC CD RE THDD

American Rottweiler Club Therapy Dog of the Year

(5 years in a row)

Handler: Ed Hazzard

December 16, 2020

At 5:10 this afternoon after a long battle with cancer, Miss Bella Rose went to Heaven and she is now running with Sam and the other Therapy Pals we lost this year. Ed wrote me this afternoon those words. He said she was running with Sam and Sam is the boss. That may be true but I guarantee Miss Bella Rose is making everyone laugh with her antics!

Miss Bella Rose was a beautiful American Golden Retriever who loved to dress in all sorts of dresses and bling for different occasions. She loved to go to the Dog Gone Fun night at UBH. Every class has its clown and our clown was Bella Rose. She would start to run the little jump course we had set up and would make it through about a fourth of it and run to see a patient. She would resume running the course and leave again to search handlers bags against the wall. She would find a ball or some toy and proudly come to Ed to show her prize. Young and old laughed and laughed at her smiling face as she did her antics. She was a delight, to say the least. Bella Rose always went to the State Special Olympics in Arlington once again serving kids. She loved greeting the athletes once they finished. Bella Rose was very versatile with her therapy as she loved going regularly to Good Samaritan Nursing Home, Frisco library reading visits as well as school visits. She did all visits with love. She always attended the Therapy Pal classes to help teach “paws up” at a bedside. She met the prospective Therapy Pals in class and communicated in her elegance the importance of the job.

Bella Rose became a Therapy Pal on June 26, 2010. She made over four hundred visits by January of 2017. She continued making visits until COVID-19 shut us down in March of this year. I am sure she missed her work as it stopped so suddenly. I am sure before she stopped visiting, she had made at least another couple of hundred visits the past three years.

Anyone who met or knew Miss Bella Rose would not forget her. She was calm, elegant, and full of love with a spark of mischief. She loved her little bossman, Sam, and had his back for sure. I know Sam has quite a therapy membership in Heaven and I bet they are working helping in ways we don’t know. Bella Rose, you did a fantastic job on earth! You will be missed as you left a big hole in our hearts. You will always bring a smile with your memories and that is saying a whole lot!

Handler: Terrie Wuensche

December 8, 2020

Cyrus passed away on Tuesday Dec. 8th. For those of you who did not get to visit with or to know Cyrus, he was Terrie Wuensche’s Staffordshire Terrier. He was low to the ground but grand in stature. His big mouth looked like a catfish as he always had a smile. He loved people and he loved doing therapy work. He would dress in costumes or not, Whatever his beloved Terrie wanted him to do, he did with a smile. I swear at times, he was laughing because he was enjoying his visits so much. All who met Cyrus fell in love with him. He visited UBH and then he preferred to do the visits at the Juvenile Detention Center. The kids loved him and looked forward to seeing him. When he could not make the visit, the kids always asked where Cyrus was or if he was in the next group of dogs they would see. He was “hit” on his visits. He missed some visits as he tried to eat anything that wasn’t tied down which resulted in several surgeries to remove socks, or metal objects as he didn’t care. Cyrus made people laugh which is a unique trade for any dog to possess.

Cyrus became a Therapy Pal in January of 2014 and he tried all kinds of venues visiting. He enjoyed every visit I do believe but he loved kids the most. He was truly an ambassador for his breed during his six years with Therapy Pals. His two-foot-tall, seventy-five pounds seemed like a whale as to the impact he left on our hearts. Thank you, Cyrus for being you as you served humanity beautifully. You will be missed.

Handlers: Cyann Looney & Susan Mayo

November 11, 2020

Molly Spotted Toes has left us to join our heavenly branch of Therapy Pals. She left last evening while her two best humans in the world were at her side. Cyann and Susan were her best friends. She loved to trot beside the horse as Susan rode. She gave her humans pet therapy through Susan’s lung transplant surgery. She found ways to comfort each of them. She loved romping with the other animal friends who lived with her. She had a special place in her heart for going to the McMath reading visits with Cyann. Her stately, alert look gave her readers the sense she was into the story being read. Being a parti colored standard poodle, she was true to her colors. Life to her was a party! Her gleeful attitude poured out happiness to be around her. She served Therapy Pals for four years and she always enjoyed seeing the human kids learn. She will be missed by her companions both human and canine in Therapy Pals. She was only six years old but what an amazing imprint she left on the hearts she touched in those six years. Rest well Molly Spotted Toes, rest well as you served humanity well.

Handler: Jean Stockton

November 3, 2020

Cinnamon crossed the bridge from an accident on November 3rd. She was a tiny three and a half pound Yorkie with the spirit of a Great Dane! She thought she was as big as they come, since little did not mean not mighty to her! She became a Therapy Pal in December of 2018 and served her two years well. She loved kids in particular and working with the reading programs. Her last assignment was working with the Corinth Academy. She was a delight to have in that group as the kids looked forward to seeing her. Cinnamon was three years old and left us way too early. We never understand why they leave us rather they are seniors or young adults. We do know each of us learns something from our different canine loves.

Cinnamon had her purpose and I am sure Jean learned from her. We were fortunate Jean shared Cinnamon with us. Those who knew the little tyke, knew they had met a special big personality in a tiny body. Each dog teaches a special lesson and affects us similarly and differently. All therapy dogs teach unconditional love for sure. They may encourage paternal or maternal, protective instincts or just teach us to respect animals in general. We may just need to learn to be more tolerant of others. Whatever it is, we are blessed with dogs who can and do convey to us what we need to learn. Cinnamon was no exception. She showed no matter what one would think she could or couldn’t do, she showed she would try and she accomplished so much. Those of us who knew her or even met her, will miss her. She was a giant in her own little cute way. She was a wonderful Therapy Pal who made her contribution to this world way too quickly for us who have to remain without her. Rest, rest, sweet little Cinnamon, in peace.

Handler: Nancy Henry

October 6, 2020

We lost another great friend by the name of Maxx in October 2020. Maxx was a very tall, stately Rhodesian Ridgeback who could have taken on lions but chose to do therapy. His spirit was so gentle and kind that he automatically attracted the elderly, kids of all ages, and veterans. When Maxx entered the room, he automatically commanded the attention of all who viewed him. His stateliness was awesome. His kind gentle giant reached out to the young and the young at heart. The club was fortunate to meet him in 2013 and he made almost three hundred visits in his seven years of service. To say he was “a love” is an understatement. Maxx enjoyed visiting the behavioral hospital on Christmas mornings and on Veteran’s Day. He regularly visited the Lake Forest Good Samaritan nursing home. He was always a hit at the Texas State Special Olympics in Arlington for many years. Maxx never met a child or adult who was in need without giving them pure love. His kind, loving eyes gave an instant message of comfort or joy and he knew which was needed instinctively. Every year, he went to a company picnic of his human mom’s employer. He depicted to that crowd of folks what a therapy dog can do. He entertained, enjoyed the multiple strokes on his beautiful coat by people passing by, and he engaged the children with communication only a child can understand.

Maxx, when he wasn’t doing therapy, was entertaining the girls periodically making little Maxxs or Maxines. He had gone through confirmation shows and was a desired stud by many. We will miss Maxx but we know he gave the world some really kind, loving Rhodesians to follow in his footsteps. We may get to see one of his off-springs at some point but if we don’t, we know he continues to live in his off-springs.

Maxx, you served your mom so well for twelve years. It was so obvious you loved Nancy with all of your heart. You wanted to do whatever she needed or wanted you to do. For those of you in Therapy Pals who didn’t get to meet Maxx, you missed a very special guy and a guy you could not help but love. For those of us who had the pleasure of knowing Maxx, our hearts will have a spot of emptiness and a memory of gentle kindness he gave us all. Maxx, we loved you and you did great!! Thank you.

Handlers: Ken & Nadine Wilcox

July 28, 2020

Churro went to be with Sam this morning. Churro was a beautiful black miniature Dachshund and was easily the most laid-back, affectionate dog you’ve ever met. Churro loved Sam and wrote him each summer when he went to Alaska. He sent him pictures of him being on a boat and fishing for the big ones! He was a source of entertainment and comfort and saw himself as a threat (albeit a mild one) to the bunnies on Whidbey Island, (in his dreams). Like the rest of his family, he loved to fish in Alaska, excited to welcome salmon (or even at the site of herring as bait). He was a well-traveled hound dog, logging 42 flights in one summer alone. Churro was loved not just by his family, but also by friends and thousands of strangers traveling through countless airports.

Churro loved to do therapy. He faithfully served with GT Dog in TX as the longest-serving therapy dog. He graduated from Therapy Pals in October of 2008 and faithfully served UBH (University Behavioral Hospital) until this year. In addition to his serving Therapy Pals, he also flew many times with his American Airline Pilot dad and entertained many people in the airports. One season, he made over forty-five trips with his dad. He was loved not just by family and friends, but also by thousands of strangers traveling through countless airports. When he wasn’t with his dad, Ken, he was with his mom, Nadine, who he adored. Churro was fifteen and a half years old when he joined Sam. His last visit to UBH was one where he could no longer hear people but he never stopped wagging his tail. Churro made close to three hundred visits during his tenure with Therapy Pals. Churro was also well known at the USCGA attending every Parents Weekend, rugby games, and such.

He was loved by many and he gave joy to many, many more. Churro, you go play with Sam as you earned your wings and you made your mark on this world. There will be many who will never forget you. You did a good job! You rest and play now knowing you will be loved forever.

Handler: Pam Petty

April 27, 2020

Anna crossed over the Rainbow bridge to play with Quanah and Sam on April the 22nd. For those of you who did not know Anna, she was Pam Petty’s companion and Therapy Pal known to kids as “Anna Banana”. Anna became a Therapy Pal in May of 2013 and for almost seven years she entertained and brought joy and comfort as a Therapy Pal. She absolutely loved her visits to Texas Woman’s University (TWU), the Denton County Juvenile Detention Center, and to the Rosemont apartments for an after-school reading program. She loved children in particular for therapy visits and she loved bringing home ribbons from obedience show rings. Anna was a wonderful representative for the Rottweiler breed in that she seemed to enjoy life and wherever life took her. She was such a love and she loved her “human mom” enough to try to do whatever was asked of her.

Anna was always aware of the activities around her. She did not want disorder of any kind and often would tell another dog to “knock it off” if they were not behaving in a manner acceptable to her. Anna was overall a happy dog but capable of instigating disorder among her siblings and watching the interaction between them and her human. She had such an innocent expression; it would be hard to believe she could be a little instigator. She had a little bit of a mischievous personality which made her a bit different but totally delightful. When she was being mischievous, the twinkle in her eye would give her away as she watched amusingly as her human resolved the issue with her siblings. From “Anna Banana” to little Mischievous, Anna would make herself known in any group. Anna will be totally missed. Hopefully, she is being a bit mischievous as she plays with Quanah, her Rotti friend, while Sam, “the Boss” watches them. Anna, you were a total delight to your human mom and a total joy to those of us who knew you. A job well done, Anna!