GREYT SCRAPBOOK : JOHNNY HEADBAND a/k/a SPEEDIE

Speedie, formerly known as Johnny Headband, is now a Therapy Dog certified by The Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Inc.

Speedie visits a Retirement Home once a week and a Nursing Home about every other week.The residents love him, and he loves to be petted by them. He does an occasional trick, like speak or shake hands, but primarily he just quietly stands or sits there and lets them pet him and talk to him. When you think about this, most of the residents have had pets and now they don't, so they really enjoy the opportunity to pet a well behaved dog.

He has had one MAJOR success, in that a lady who wouldn't come out of her room now comes out to talk to him in the hallway! This is the ONLY time she ever comes out of her room.

And, there are some residents who greet him by name that do not know their own names!

Bright & Beautiful is the only Therapy Dog organization I could find that did not require me to travel a long distance to take a test. They accepted the AKC Canine Good Citizen test which Speedie easily passed on his first try when it was administered by the local AKC club. I also had to get statements from the directors of the two homes he visits and a health certificate from his vet. He now has his own picture ID and we are covered by their Liability Insurance in case of an accident while at one of these visits.-Dick Hardman