Therapy Dog Team Spotlight: Sarah Graves and Ozzy

 

🐾 Ozzy the Newfoundland, A Big-Hearted Buddy

Hey there, hoomans and fellow four-leggers! 🐶 Murphy here—therapy dog, tail-wagger, and professional snuggler. Today I’m barking out a tribute to one of my favorite floofy friends: Ozzy the Newfoundland. If you’ve ever met Ozzy, you know what I mean when I say he’s basically a walking teddy bear with paws the size of dinner plates and a heart even bigger.

Let me tell you about this gentle giant and his amazing human, Sarah Graves.

🌟 How Ozzy Found His Calling

Sarah’s been in the therapy dog game longer than I’ve been chasing squirrels. She started over 20 years ago with her first pup, took a break when life got busy (kids, work, the usual hooman stuff), and now she’s back at it with Ozzy. And let me tell you—Ozzy was born for this job.

Sarah says, “He’s not just a therapy dog—he’s my partner, my companion, and my daily dose of laughter.” I mean, same, right? We dogs are basically furry antidepressants with built-in cuddle settings.

🧸 Kindergarten Chaos & Lice Lies

One of Sarah’s favorite Ozzy moments happened in a kindergarten classroom. Picture this: Ozzy chillin’ on the rug, surrounded by tiny humans, when one yells, “Group hug on Ozzy!” Boom—15 kids pile on. Ozzy just looked at Sarah like, “You seeing this?” and soaked up every ounce of love.

Then there was the time a little girl scratched his back and shouted, “Ozzy has head lice!” Total false alarm—it was just dry skin. But hey, kids say the darndest things. Keeps us humble.

And the heart-melters? Like the boy who couldn’t read a page when they met, but by the end of the year was reading chapter books to Ozzy. That’s the kind of magic we therapy dogs live for.

💛 Healing, One Tail Wag at a Time

Let’s be real—some days, even therapy dogs feel a little “meh.” But once Ozzy and Sarah walk into a school or hospital, everything shifts. People light up. Stories get shared. Healing begins.

Dogs have this universal language of love. We don’t care where you’re from, what you’ve been through, or how your day’s going—we’re here for you. Ozzy’s helped strangers become friends, just by being his big, lovable self.

🥒 Ozzy’s Quirks: Babies, Veggies & Garden Crimes

Okay, this part cracks me up. Ozzy is OBSESSED with his stuffed animals—his “babies.” He takes them on walks, drops them in random places, and even steals them from neighbor dogs. It’s like a plush toy black market in their cul-de-sac.

And food? Don’t get me started. Ozzy’s on a veggie kick—cucumbers and tomatoes are his jam. He even raids the garden like a veggie bandit. Sarah had to lock the gate to protect the produce. Now she hits up farmers markets just for him. (If anyone knows how to freeze cucumbers without turning them into mush, she’s begging for tips.)

🐾 Final Sniffs of Wisdom

Ozzy may be massive, but his heart is even more colossal. Whether he’s comforting a child, making someone smile in a hospital, or sneaking tomatoes like a veggie ninja, he’s proof that therapy dogs don’t just change lives—we enrich them in ways hoomans never expected.

So here’s to Ozzy, my big-hearted buddy. Keep wagging, keep healing, and keep being the gentle giant we all adore.

Paws and love, 

Murphy the Therapy Dog 🐾

 

 

🐾 Therapy Dog Team Spotlight: Linda Lee, Nellie & Chili

Where golden hearts meet golden retrievers  

At Pearl Street Books in La Crosse, the scent of stories mingles with the soft shuffle of paws. Twice a month, Linda Lee and her golden retrievers, Nellie and Chili, bring more than just wagging tails—they bring healing, connection, and joy.

🌟 A Legacy of Love

Linda’s journey into therapy dog work began years ago with Penny (a golden retriever) and Oskar (a lab). These gentle companions visited schools, after-school programs, and long-term care facilities, leaving behind pawprints of comfort and calm. Inspired by their impact, Linda knew she wanted to continue this meaningful work with her new pups. With the help of Happy Tails trainers, Nellie and Chili were lovingly prepared to carry on the tradition.

“In our stressful world, this seemed to be something we could provide,” Linda shares. “People immediately relaxed with our dogs.”

📚 Healing Between the Bookshelves

One unforgettable moment unfolded at Pearl Street Books. A woman, recovering from a traumatic dog attack, cautiously entered the store after hearing about the therapy dogs. She sat down, unsure, but Nellie gently rested her head on the woman’s feet while Chili nestled beside her, his head on her arm. Slowly, trust bloomed. She eventually sat on the floor with them, surrounded by warmth and safety.

“She thanked me and said the experience helped her recover and lessen her fear of dogs,” Linda recalls. “It made me happy that we could help her—it reinforces the value therapy dogs have in helping people overcome their fears.”

💛 From Public Health to Pet Therapy

After 30 years in public health, Linda sees pet therapy as a natural extension of her life’s work. “Being around and petting my therapy dogs helps people relax and lowers their stress,” she says. “Besides…I love sharing my dogs with others!”

And the connections are real. Regular visitors return to see Nellie and Chili, and Linda has built a cherished friendship with the bookstore owner and staff. It’s more than a visit—it’s a community.

🐶 Quirks & Treats

Chili, the younger golden, has a signature move: hugs! “It’s pretty cute,” Linda laughs. And when it comes to treats? Hot dog pieces reign supreme—just like in their training days.

🎥 In the Spotlight

Nellie and Chili’s impact even caught the eye of local news! WEAU featured their visits in a heartwarming segment about Pearl Street Books’ therapy dog program.
You can watch the story: Click here

Whether curled up beside a reader or offering a hug to someone in need, Nellie and Chili remind us that healing can come in the form of fur, friendship, and a quiet moment of peace. Thank you, Linda, for sharing your golden-hearted team with the world.