From Rescue to Super Star Therapy Dog

Hello, I am Don Suave Gilberto de Camarillo. I am a Certified Therapy Dog registered with Pet Partners and Love on a Leash. I have my Canine Good Citizen (CGC) and Therapy Dog Novice (THDN) titles. As a volunteer employee for VITAS Healthcare Paw Pals I meet with Hospice patients when needed. I participate in Paws for Reading at my local library working with kids learning to read, as well as visiting local nursing homes. I also visit local schools and colleges upon request to de-stress the students. Everyone says I am a super star therapy dog. But it wasn’t always like this, only four years ago when I was but a lad I had ended up at a LA shelter. Thank goodness Second Chance Cocker Rescue found me and introduced me to my dad or I don’t know what would have happened.  

Last year my dad thought I would enjoy some training lessons, not that I needed them, you understand. We had so much fun and I was so good at it, if I do say so myself, we just kept going and pretty soon there I was working as a therapy dog. Now dad and I are busy every week volunteering for lots of good causes.  I really like it and I get so much attention. I even have a great vest dad made for me with cool patches showing everything I do and all my titles on it. I wear it all the time, not just when I work. That way everyone wants to pet and talk to me. They get to learn about Therapy dogs and I get tons of attention. Works for me! Dad also set me up with my own website so I can share my activities and keep in touch with my fans on Facebook (CockerSuave). How cool is that?

I’m having such a good time, now my older sister Madison says she wants to become a Therapy Dog also. She was a rescue dog too. I guess it would be ok to have her come along but she had better stay clear when the petting starts, because I am the super star of this family!