Close Encounters of the Four-Legged Kind
First time visitors to the Best Friends Welcome Center frequently state that they “want to see some animals". Unfortunately some of these people are only passing through and have no time for a tour. That is when the Welcome Center dogs work their magic and become canine ambassadors for the sanctuary. It’s not unusual for visitors to be greeted at the door by one or more of the staff dogs, before they even reach the reception desk.
Each dog has developed a unique greeting routine; Faith is known for laying flat on her back waiting for belly rubs; Cole saunters up to guests and eventually goes into a full body lean against someone’s leg; Rosie sits or sleeps on the counter or in an open drawer waiting for someone to notice her; and Athena patiently sits in the back office until she gets an opportunity to come out front, wagging her tail and mingling with the crowd.
Joey was a favorite with both visitors and staff. He was a big, strong dog who would play tug with anyone and everyone – even other dogs! The amazing thing about Joey was the ability to alter his “game” depending on who was on the other end of the rope. If it was a small child or little dog, he would simply stand with the rope in his mouth and let the opponent do all the tugging. However if it was someone more his size, Joey went all out and frequently outlasted the competition. Sadly, Joey crossed over the Rainbow Bridge in May after a courageous fight against liver failure.
The Welcome Center dogs bring a wonderful spirit and energy to work with them - they have provided comfort to visitors who have lost a dog, laughter to many who enjoy their antics, and they are also amazing examples of rescue dog success stories.
This story is first in a series of six.
Written by Sue Francesconi