Abe has been changing human lives for the better ever since he was a clumsy, fluffy puppy. His owner, Judith Bonifaci, was mourning the loss of her beloved Golden Retriever when a friend suggested she fill the dog-shaped hole in her heart with another furry friend. Bonifaci vowed that her next pup would have a purpose, and that together they would pay forward all the love and joy her previous dog had brought into her life.
“I knew that if I were to get another dog, I wanted one that could make a difference,” said Bonifaci in a story on the Seattle Children’s hospital website. “That’s when I decided to look for a puppy to train to become a therapy dog.”
She set out to find the perfect Golden Retriever puppy. One who possessed all the wonderful traits the breed is known for like intelligence, trainability, and a calm, gentle, outgoing nature. When she met Abe, Bonifaci knew right away he was the one.
“I always said he was born to be a therapy dog,” she said. “From the moment I met him, I could tell he was an old soul who had a special purpose in life.”
When it came to the extensive obedience and specialized therapy dog training necessary for certification, Abe was a natural. At just 14-months-old, he became one of the youngest Goldens to pass his assesments and begin his career.
Bonifaci is an elementary school teacher and a member of the Seattle Children’s Guild Association Board of Trustees. After spending time as the classroom dog for Bonifaci’s students, Abe was ready for a new challenge.
He was clearly wonderful with children, and at 2-years-old he had reached the minimum age for therapy work with hospital patients. Transitioning him to become a visiting canine ambassador at Seattle Children’s Hospital was the perfect choice.
From his very first visit, Abe instantly adapted to the hospital setting. In his 11 years of faithful weekly service, he has brought smiles to the faces of thousands of sick children, their families, and the hardworking staff who care for them.
“I often say it’s not me who controls the leash, it’s Abe who does,” said Bonifaci. “He seems to always know where to go. There have been times where he would lead me to a patient’s room that wasn’t even on our list of visits — Abe just knows where he’s needed.”
At 13, Abe has begun to slow down. He has spine and throat problems that make his weekly two hour visits taxing on his body. While he settles in to the luxurious life of a well-loved retiree, Bonifaci will continue his legacy with her two-year-old Golden, Jackie who is currently working on his therapy dog certification.
“I’m not sure how much time Abe has left, but what I do know is he was able to fulfill his incredible purpose of making a difference in people’s lives, which was what I had always hoped for,” Bonifaci said.
H/T to SeattleChildrens.org
Featured Images via Facebook/PetSmart Charities
