Age: 10 years
Breed: Golden Retriever
Status: Angel
Received Wings: May 2022
Although no longer by our side, Honey is in our hearts forever. Read about Honey’s legacy as a lifelong therapy dog.
Honey really is a “honey do!” This sweeter than honey girl is dressed in her therapy vest and 
sitting in the car ready to go to the Largo Library to help the kids read or to one of the nearby colleges to take the stress off the students during their final exams.
Honey was rescued by GRRMF and adopted by Bert in 2012, this dynamic team started therapy that same year. Although Bert keeps very busy with her commitments to GRRMF as Vice President, Director of the Intake and Medical/Behavioral teams, she always finds time to keep Honey active in the community. “I decided to join Project PUP because they are a local group in our community and serve a wide variety of facilities, such as schools, hospitals, ALFs and libraries,”says Bert. Now, she and Honey are thrilled to be a part of GRRMF Hearts of Gold Therapy Team. What could be better than to have the rescue you support be able to support and give back to people in your community.
As a veteran therapy dog for eight years, Honey takes her duties seriously. She is a “rock star” with her fan club of children and young adults and she plans to keep it that way. Honey loves every minute with the children, hearing them read their stories and having them pet her is her special delight. “It’s a rewarding experience to see the children learn to enjoy reading and sharing their stories and experiences with us,” says her proud handler Bert.
One of the special things about being part of a therapy team is that you develop a camaraderie together that evolves around charitable and rewarding experiences. Bert describes one of their rituals after their visits with the children. “We usually have the same four dog teams every month at the library. The dogs and handlers all line up to receive their “paycheck”. We are working teams that have been together many years and none of them let me forget to give them their well-deserved treats.”
Bert concludes, “Honey and I enjoy the relationships we have built with the other teams in our group over the years; we plan to continue our visits with the children at the library to help them enjoy reading and to share stories and fun experiences together. “
Training/Certifications:
Basic Manners
Canine Good Citizen
Project PUP certified
AKC Therapy Dog (THD)
Hearts of Gold Therapy Team
