"Mr. Personality"

Summerfest was indeed summer.

At 88 degrees, we were sweating out our time as therapy dogs and owners. But this was our first therapy visit with kids, and we wondered how Gumbo would react to all that energy.

It was a beautiful thing.

They petted. They loved. He behaved.

But when the kids discoveed the border collie would run after a stick -- well, we drew a crowd.

It's a miracle the tree beside us had any limbs at all!

We had a great time, and we're really hooked on this therapy dog thing. It's a wonderful thing to love an animal and to be able to share that love with so many people who want just to be able to pet a dog!

(Later in the dog show the two therapy border collies, Gumbo and Cody, were judged the dogs with the "most personality.")

Dog biscuits were shared by all....

Officially therapeutic

Gumbo is officially a therapy dog now. He made his first visit recently to Azalea Estates, which is an assisted living complex.

We think he likes it. Who wouldn't like being petted by everyone in sight?

Lindsey and I enjoyed our visit, also. We walked in the door, and a gentleman was sitting right inside the foyer.

"OOOOHHHH, a DOG!" he exclaimed.

We learned that many of the residents miss their pets. And we heard many stories of this good dog, or that good dog.

More therapy visits are definitely in our future! Lindsey and I are checking out where we might want to live someday!