Inspiring Therapy Dog Dropout

Hi! I'm Chipper, a rescued shelter mutt. A few years ago I passed the test to become a certified therapy dog so I could bring happiness to people in nursing homes, children's hospitals, homeless youth shelters, disabled group homes, etc. Unfortunately I failed out of the program when I reached my rebellious adolescent stage and started barking at sweet little old ladies. I felt like a four legged "failure" until I realized that when one doggy door closes, another one opens. I published an autobiDOGraphy about my life as a therapy dog dropout, and it teaches that you don't have to be perfect to make a difference. I'm very excited because my story has inspired people all over the world to do nice things for others! A woman from Washington State read about the paw-printed valentines that I made for some lonely seniors, and decided to make handprinted cards with the help of her one-year-old daughter, Kayt. The mother-daughter team delivered the cards to friends and neighbors who needed cheering up. That fun day inspired Kayt and her mom to keep bringing smiles to others, so they started a tradition of visiting a nursing home twice a month. A retired seizure alert dog in Kentucky followed in my footsteps by cheerfully standing still while his family painted his paw with bright colors to make Thanksgiving turkey cards for some kids at an orphanage. It's nice to know that I can help make the world a better place even though I'm imperfect!