Karen, thanks for choosing Hollywood for your pet of the day. To say that I am proud of what he and Ann do with the therapy dog visits would be a huge understatement. He lives to put on his TDI bandana and goes crazy whenever it is done. All he wants is hugs, pets and kisses from people and especially loves it when the kids climb all over him. These visits are as important to him as what a meaty bone would be to many other dogs. I occasionally go on therapy visits with the two of them to see first hand if the stories Ann tells me are true and if anything she under exaggerates. Many patients we have visited are in deep depression and usually within about 10 minutes they are laughing, smiling and hugging on the dogs. One thing I have noticed after several years is he always seems to gravitate to the patient needing the most help. Every time we walk out of the room full of patients the nurses comment that the one patient that he went directly to is the one patient that is the worst off. What really amazes me is how many times hospital staff members run to the hospital entryway upon Hollywood's arrival. One day I asked a surgeon why she came to meet Hollywood every time he came and her response was, "many people think that our patients are the only ones that need therapy visits. Well maybe we need them as well due to what we see and deal with every day." That was a huge I eye opener for me and now we make it a point to stop and visit staff members as well.

Thanks for letting us bring attention to Hollywood and the therapy dog program.
Rick and Ann