Diva - The Multi-Ethnic Canine Love Sponge

Any visitor to our blog has probably guessed that we love our dog, Diva. We sprung her from the Orange County Humane Society in August of 2003 and she walked into our home like she owned the place. Dad had come to live with us in July of the same year and was lonely during the day while Be & I were at work. Step in Diva. Dog and Daddy-O bonded like old buddies and she filled an important void in dad's life. He was 91 at the time and although he was able to walk (shuffle is more like it) Diva proved to be a bit unsteadying for him as he toured the yard around the house. One afternoon, he fell in the back yard and was unable to get back up on his feet. Diva hung out with him for awhile until she realized that he needed help that her company alone could not provide. So she strutted out to the street, stood at the curb and barked at cars until a neighbor stopped. She then led our friend back to where Daddy-O was still laying on the ground, unhurt, and he was assisted back to his room where he stayed until one of us got home from work. She had no training for this behavior and this event revealed that we had a remarkable animal under our roof.
A White Boxer mix (we're not sure who daddy was, thus the Multi Ethnic Canine Love Sponge title - daddy was probably a Grayhound or Dalmatian), Diva responded easily to tricks which we learned off the internet. She proved to be a real ham when it came to entertaining company and neighborhood kids. Then it hit ... after a routine mamogram, Be was diagnosed with breast cancer and subsequently had a mastectomy in December of the same year. During her recovery, Diva proved to be a healing and comforting presence not only to Be, but to Daddy-O and myself as well. Be is cancer free and we are most thankful for her continuing health.
It wasn't long until it was realized that Daddy-O was in need of continuing care and could not be left alone without being a threat to himself. Madison House (a continuing care facility - a step up from assisted living without being called a nursing home) was 1 mile from our house and he has been living there since May of 2004. Diva instantly became a comfort animal to the residents there and although many of them don't know our names, they sure know their Diva. When we realized her capabilities in entertaining the seniors, we enrolled her in a 12 week course called Canine Crusaders where she learned the behaviors for visitations to nursing & retirement centers & hospitals. She now visits a nursing home on a monthly basis with us and spreads her special variety of joy to the residents. One of the staff saw Diva with a patient who was mostly unresponsive and shouted "Look at Frank! He's smiling!"
The pictures below were taken on a recent visit to Madison House - the first includes Diva, Be & Daddy-O and the others are some of the residents with the DivaDog.