cility dog. After many weeks of training, Wendi was finally able to bring Buddy home, and now he accompanies
her to work every day, much like a police dog accompanies an officer.
A normal day for Buddy consists of visits to many waiting
rooms and inpatient units with a staff or volunteer handler.
The handler encourages and assists veterans in making
contact with Buddy in the way they feel most comfortable
and shows them how to prompt Buddy to do tricks. This
brings a feeling of satisfaction and success to the veteran;
it may even bring some laughs to the sometimes anxietyprovoking or scary situation of a hospital stay. In some
cases, the veterans may make a connection with friends or
relatives later by telling them about the dog they saw at
the VA when they went for their cancer treatment. Another large portion of Buddy's work is done impromptu in the
halls of the hospital. Many veterans want to touch and
show affection toward the dog, and often, they have stories of their own past and present pets to share. This cuts
through the nervousness and anticipation of coming in for
a doctor's appointment or procedure and gives our facility
more of a human touch. Isn't it funny how this has
worked out...We enlisted a dog to help us gain and retain
sight of the human experience!
Of course, not everyone at the hospital is fond of animals.
Buddy is well-trained and redirectable when the handler
notices that someone is not comfortable or could possibly
become defensive with the dog. In addition to bringing
his leash when his handler says “Leash” or opening an
automatic door when the handler says “Touch,” Buddy is
trained in sensing when someone does not want or need
his help.
Another idea that has been suggested is to make buttons