Regional Area: North West
Breed: Golden Hearted
Tender at heart, Tony knows what it means to truly love.
Tony does particularly well in nursing/memory care units because he’s not afraid of busy places or people in wheelchairs. He also enjoys working with small children and although he can be somewhat cautious, he’s always perfectly behaved.
One of this team’s more memorable visits occurred at the Ronald McDonald House when a little girl came over to Tony, and despite never seeing her before, he was so excited to meet her. Another memorable moment was when Tony helped to calm an extremely agitated nursing care patient for a brief period of time.
Especially touching, though, was the first time Tony saw a man in a wheelchair replete with a trachea tube and voice box. Anne asked the gentleman if they could approach him and when he agreed, they moved closer and Tony treated him like family with an exuberant tail wag and kisses. It made the man tear up because he told Anne that dogs usually find him “scary” based on the way he looks.
When he’s home, Tony loves chasing squirrels, fetching balls, playing with his two feline brothers and kayaking. One of his cuter quirks is the fact that he “frets” over the sound of owls despite having to be a “tough guy” around squirrels. Cautious around other dogs due to his diminutive size, he nonetheless always wags his tail and bows his head in greeting. Once he realizes they mean no harm, he looks for a toy to share!
Now this team looks forward to making as many visits to different places as possible.
Training/Certifications
Hearts of Gold Therapy Team
Watch our Hearts of Gold Therapy Teams in action: Hearts of Gold YouTube channel
To learn more about what to consider for joining our Hearts of Gold team, click here!
