Our first Great Pyrenees named Russell (left) arrived at our Nashville home from Virginia in 2015 courtesy of NGPR. No one knew much about him, he was an “empty slate” who happily didn’t spend much time in rescue. His intake date was August 8 and he moved to us from his Virginia foster at the end of August. By the end of September we had adopted him!
Russell was beautiful and what was known as a pocket pyr. He loved meeting people. He was an “accomplished” therapy dog and we spent hours visiting Vanderbilt Hospital and University, Belmont University and Lipscomb University in Nashville. The students would lay on the floor and talk to him and he would look at them with such understanding and patience.
My husband and I moved to Charleston SC from Nashville during Covid. There was no opportunity to go on therapy dog visits. Towards the end of Covid we lost Russell when he could no longer walk. My husband had retired and there was a big gap in our lives from not having our big fluffy around. We applied to adopt again from NGPR but then we learned of a Great Pyrenees in need not far from us.
Spencer (left) came into our lives after he was abandoned by a farmer. When my husband and Spencer looked at each other there was no question where Spencer was going to spend the rest of his life.
We knew Spencer had the personality it takes to become a therapy dog. He completed a basic obedience course and then did his certification training at an assisted living center in Mount Pleasant. It took about a year to go through the process.
After months of training and socializing at Costco and Home Depot, Spencer still needed to be interviewed to figure out where might be best suited based on his personality, likes and dislikes. We learned Spencer prefers a more low-key environment and doesn’t like elevators so visiting a clinic on a high floor wouldn’t work for him.
Now Spencer is a 120 lb. therapy star at two Charleston hospitals. When he walks in the staff cry “Spencer” and he makes the rounds to make sure everyone gets to touch his soft, thick fur. My husband visits with Spencer at several colleges including the Citadel. Watching the stress melt from the students’ faces when they see Spencer makes having Great Pyrenees the best canine experience in the world.
by Michelle Hall, Mt. Pleasant, SC
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