Hiya, Sam here. We recently attended our hospital’s annual recognition get-together and I was surprised that mom and I have logged 135 visits over the past 4 years. This year’s ‘trophy’ was a plaque. You can see previous trophies from 2015 and 2016 here and here. The peeps make a big deal out of it but it’s really no big deal and I wasn’t all that excited. Mom forgot to get a photo of me receiving my plague but then took one after we got home when I was trying to catch up on a few 💤. I’m all about getting ear scratches at those events, well that and maybe a cheese cube…or ten from the lunch. Despite a lower turnout (our numbers are down this year with the passing of several dogs), it was still fun to see all our fur-iends. I’m so proud of the work everyone does. One of the dogs had 704 visits over a period of 11 years. I think he must live at the hospital!
Seriously mom, stop taking pictures of me with the plaque. Just put it with the others that you need to dust every week. But give me a treat for being a good boy, okay?
Live, love, bark! ❤︎
Congratulations Sam on your great accomplishment. Wow! 😳 135 visits is a lot in that short time. We’re very proud of you. Everyone must love to see you coming. I’m glad you get treats and ear scratches. What could be better. Well the plaque. Did you get more treats and ear scratches when the pics got taken?
Sorry this is late, but we were gone awhile.
Thank you. Hope you’ve been doing something fun while away. The treats were great but the attention even better. 135 is a lot for us but nothing like the 704 for the miniature poodle in our group. I think he must live at the hospital!
Oh my, 704, I can’t imagine the 135. Did he get a gold plaque with a golden automatic ear scratcher? No, nothing fun, my MIL got sick suddenly and died. There’s more on my post, Life.
I know, right? So sorry about your MIL. 😧Oodles of thoughts and prayers flowing your way from me and the poodles.
Thank you very much.
cheese cubes and ear scatches. bet that made Sams’s day.
people and their therapy dogs, like you and Sam, are very special. touching the patients life and giving the nurses a moment of happy happy joy joy in their work day.
smiles linger, hearts are fuller after a visit from Sam and you and other therapy teams. Thank You for volunteering.
now about those cheese cubes mom AND your grocery list, hint hint.
Cheese cubes and ear scratches are always the ‘pawfect’ combo.
Oh, that is *SUCH* a big deal!!! Congrats Mom and Sam! So awesome!
Many thanks!
Congratulations on your award! You do a wonderful thing for the people you touch in some of their worst moments. You make their days a little brighter. If we could all do that, wouldn’t our world be a much nicer place?
Many thanks. We hope we can brighten people’s day, whether they are a patient or a caregiver.
I bet it’s a HUGE deal to the people you visit there! Good job Sam and Mom!
We love it when we can make people smile.
Congratulations and I’ll bet it is a VERY big deal to all of the patients that you make feel better.
Thank you. We live to make peeps of all stripes feel better.
Yay Sam! I’m glad to hear there were some ear scratches and treats for you having to deal with boring people stuff like an award ceremony.
Thank you. Good thing I like peeps especially when they have treats. 😇 🐩
I love reading about all of the good work that you two enjoy together!
Many thanks. We enjoy providing smiles to peeps whenever and wherever we can.
Congrats Sam!! That’s awesome!! Don’t be so nonchalant about it – go out there and “strut your stuff”!! You (and your Mom) deserve a lot of praise and treats for all you do at the hospital!! ❤️❤️🐾🐾
Aw shucks, thanks. Mostly she just drives and I do all the tail-wagging work. 😇
Your fur-iend,
Sam🐾
Congratulations Sam! And don’t play humble…you are a champ!
Thank you! Sometimes I think he’s in it for the attention, but it’s always nice when he makes someone smile.
Congratulations!
Many thanks!
What an amazing accomplishment. You have done such fantastic work!
Many thanks. The number kind of surprised me, but we do it for the people we can make smile, not for the awards.
I totally understand that. Still, that is a lot of people that you have done some wonderful things for and that deserves to be recognized and celebrated.
That’s so kind of you to say. Thank you.
😇
Congratulations! You truly earned this award…and lots of extra treats, Sam!
Aww, thank you. Mostly I prefer the ear scratches but we’ll accept the plaque. 😇 Mom doesn’t have enough to dust anyway.
Your fur-iend,
Sam🐾
Ok, look at it this way Sam – when peeps are happy with you, or when they want to show affection, they give you a treat, which could be something to eat or a new toy to play with. That makes you happy. Well look on these plaques as sort of treats uprights give to each other when they are pleased with something. One hundred and thirty five (135) hospital visits is something a young fellow like you takes in your stride, but for uprights it’s a big deal, so they hand out these “treats” plaques to to show how pleased and happy they are And the other weird thing is that you get ear scratches – uprights just shake each other’s hand.. Hope this makes some sort of sense now. – Oh, and congratulations!!!
Never thought about it that way! Thanks for the kind words and the refreshing perspective. 😍
Awesome job guys!!!!
Thanks!
Yur so humbull Sam an it ISS a *big* deel!! Yur a pawsum therapee doggie an thee werld needss a hole lot more of you an mee inn it!!!
***Hi-5’sss*** Siddhartha Henry =^,.^=
I’m always happy to put smiles on people’s faces. 😇
Mee all so Sam, mee all so!
My hero!
Thanks Max! Just hoping for a few ear scratches when I see peeps. 😇
That’s a whole lot of visits, S. Congratulations. Keep up the good work. #bringingsmiles
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Thank you! I’m always happy to make people smile. It’s what I like to do, be it at the hospital or around our ‘hood.
Congratulations to you and your mom Sam. The plaque may seem trivial to you, but think of all the peeps you have help during that time. THAT is something to be proud of.
Thank you, Jodi. I’m just happy he brings such joy to others, whether there’s a plaque or not. We’d still do it. He is such a sweet boy who makes people smile.
It’s no big deal to you Sam, because you love doing it. However, it is a big deal to each and every one of those people – big and small, young and old – whose day you brighten. It’s OK for your Mom to be proud of you, sweet boy.
☺️
Congrats to you and your mom, Sam! Job well done 🙂 <3
Many thanks. The number surprised me. I’m always grateful to be able to share this sweet lovable knucklehead with people.
If Sam came to visit me in the hospital, I think I might want to keep him!!
He’d probably be happy going home with you, too!
WOW! Very cool!! Congrats on your reward! I couldn’t stop thinking about those cheese cubes…..
Cheese and Zukes treats are extra special.
Congratulations. You have touched many lives and deserve many cheese cubes.
Many thanks. Oooh, ooh, cheese is definitely my favorite. Then comes ear scratches and I get loads of them too.
Wow that is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO well-deserved!!!!!! Kudos to you on volunteer work that is WELL DONE and from the heart. Imagine all of the comfort/joy you have given to so many. Just wonderful!!!!! Congratulations!! xoxoxo
Thank you! Sam likes the attention he gets (and gives). Such a ham whenever there are nurses around.
Just as long as you don’t get dusted.
Sam, you are setting a fine example for dogs and humans alike. That award may be no big deal for you but a huge deal for all the lives you have touched over the years. Nice work!
Thank you. I’m in it for the hugs and ear scratches. The fact that it makes people feel better is a side benefit for me.
Your fur-iend,
Sam🐾
Congrats!! You and Sam have touched many lives!
Thank you. Sam does all the work, I just drive him there. 😉
And you manage to drive there without an invisible car magnet attracting things to your vehicle, right? So yes, that deserves a Pat on the Back! LOL!
LOL So far, so good.
A plaque even one representing such a body of work, may be no big deal. Now if it had a big stick on it… or a squirrel, then he’d look at it with new eyes!
The best reward for Sam is more attention-he’s not into sticks, balls, or squirrels so much. Now Elsa, on the other hand, would be all over a squirrel.
Congrats Sam!!! and imagine what’s behind the 135 visits… 135 times of joy and happy people who could furget all her sorrows for a moment they spent with you…
And oodles of poodles ear scratching!