Dog Days of Summer: Meet Auggie Doggie
Our four-legged volunteers are always ready to lend a paw. They are Beacon’s pet therapy dogs. Sixteen specially trained and certified pups can be found making the rounds with their handlers, comforting patients who miss their own dog and bringing smiles to associates at Memorial and Elkhart General. You will meet our tail-wagging teams in the weeks ahead during our special “Dog Days of Summer” series.
Name: Auggie Doggie
Age: 5
Breed: Cockapoo
Handler: Carol Keckley
Home: South Bend, IN
How long have you been a therapy dog? More than two years
“The best part of my job is…” Cuddling with new friends!
Describe your personality: People say I am joyful and affectionate, gentle and mellow.
What tricks do you know? Crawling and lying down to sleep when I hear “Shhhh.” I can turn in circles, catching a ball in mid-air, hide-and-seek, roll over and bark when you ask me to “Say hello.” I can also retrieve keys and other things that my owner drops.
Favorite human food: My family won’t give me human food, but secretly I love to lick lollipops.
Favorite movie: That’s easy. Any movie with barking dogs!
Biggest pet peeve: When my family makes me pee on command or makes me get out of bed in the morning. I’m not an early morning dog.
Who’s your hero and why? My family! They love me unconditionally and I love them right back!
Car rides or walks? Car rides.
Rawhide or pig’s ear? Definitely rawhide.
“I get so excited when my owner says…” “Do you want to go?” I love that!
“I will never forget the time when I …” Was accidentally let out of a hotel room in Charlottesville, Virginia, by housekeeping. I walked down a really long hallway, through a huge hotel lobby, out two automatic doors and down two blocks to a grocery store before a nice man picked me up and called my family. I was certain I could find them on my own!
How would you describe your perfect day? Playing ball all day long, playing with my best friend Barney, going anywhere with my family and riding the transport cart with Andy at Memorial Hospital!
If you could talk, what advice would you give the patients you see? Know that I am here to give you love, comfort, courage and joy. My mom always says that I do God’s work, and she is just my transportation.
