I always know it is going to be what my mom calls therapy day because the night before after Doggie Day care, she immediately puts me in the bathtub and scrubs me down with some wonderfully smelling coconut shampoo. My mom says I am a very good girl when I take my bath and it is important that we get clean because we have therapy day tomorrow. After I am all dried off she brushes me down and I must say my coat looks quite beautiful.

The next morning is business as usual except for the fact that we stop by Wolfgang's Pet Shop or what my mom calls the groomers. This is where I get my nail trim. They use a drummel. My mom says this is very important so I don't scratch anyone on therapy day.

After that we go to Mom's job, have a little breakfast and I take a nap. Then it is time and we are off to therapy day. We drive to a hospital. I guess it is kind of a veterinary office for people. My mom puts on my special harness, leash and collar. I also have a tag with all my credentials listed on it. You might call it my uniform. It makes me feel very important.

We wait in the lobby and then meet some of my favorite friends, Teddy and his mom Katie. Teddy is a yellow lab who is 10 years old. He has been doing this therapy thing for a long time and has really taught me the ropes. We are really good friends and spend some time catching up before we get to what my mom calls work.

We then start our walk to the rehab unit. This is where my training starts to come in. I went to school for 12 weeks and earned my canine good citizenship award along with a diploma from therapy dog school. I learned to position myself around wheelchairs and IVs. My mom says that I did a very good job in school. It was very hard but I did. The people are very sick and many of them have lost their legs or have trouble moving their arms and legs. Sometimes just petting me helps with their rehabilitation. But most of all, they just like talking to me, telling me stories about their pets and giving me massages. I always notice that they are very excited to see me. I don't think they let dogs into this place often.

Our next stop is the mental health unit. This is my favorite floor because when I come in the people look so sad but when I come around the corner they laugh and clap their hands. I have never seen people so happy to see little old me. They form a big circle and I walk around with Teddy greeting everyone. This is where I show off a couple of my tricks (high five and roll over). They just love it! My mom says I am quite the show off, but hey, if you are going to do it, do it right! This is where I get a lot of massaging and petting. I just love it.

I don't understand why my mom calls this my work. It doesn't feel like work. It feels like I am going to a doggie spa and getting a 2-1/2 hour massage. In any case, I'm glad she thinks I did a good job because on the way home she always stops and gives me a hamburger and says I am a very good girl.

Therapy day makes me happy to see the smiles on everyone's faces and I LOVE the massages!

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