Tucker

Gail and Tucker

Who would have known that the cute adorable puppy we purchased almost 7 years ago would touch our lives the way he has. It took us days to decide on a name and that was Tucker. We had the blessing of having Pauline enter our lives just a few short months before getting Tucker. She absolutely adored Tucker. I took Tucker through puppy manners and socialization classes and level 1 & 2 obedience classes. I also did agility classes, rally obedience classes and the canine good citizen classes. We wanted him to be wonderful with Pauline. Pauline is mentally disabled and they had such a bond. He adores Pauline. Three years ago after going away to camp on vacation Pauline came home with pneumonia. She was very sick and had to get a trachostemy and be on a ventilator. We spent 4 weeks in the hospital and then 4 weeks in a rehabilitation hospital to be weened off the ventilator. Pauline did it. After she went to the rahab hospital we could take Tucker to see her. He loved visiting her and she got so excited when he was there. He was very happy the day she came home. His howling made it very obvious that he missed all the time she was gone. Pauline now required 24 hour care and Tucker now took over the job of protecting her. Everyone had to be sniffed out and get the OK from him. He takes his job very seriously. One time someon came in that he did not trust and he jumped up in her lap and sat with her until they left. When we go walking he walks right beside her and sits near her when we are out. He seems to have a bond with anyone who has disabilities. He is drawn to them and is always very gentle. He wants to see everyone that he thinks needs his attention which he is always willing to give. But Pauline is his full time job. When we leave to go to the doctor he howls and cries when she leaves and the same when she comes back. He is so happy to see her. He even comes into the room and knows when she is having a bad day and just wants to get in bed and lie down next to her to make her feel better. He is always coming in to her room just to observe and know what is going on. Recently Pauline got ill again and we spent 2 weeks in the hospital and 4 weeks at the same rehab hospital to be weened off the vent again. Tucker went often to see her and when she was feeling bad we put him in bed with her. He would lick her hads where they had been drawing blood to make them feel better. When she was better and sitting up in the chair he would come in and jump up into a chair next to her and shower her with kisses. And as usual her was so excited the day she came home again. We take him with us as much as possible. Everyone knows Tucker where we live. He loves to walk and meet everyone he can. He is a one of a kind dog and our lives have been blessed just having him as a part of our family. He loves Pauline and she gets his undivided attention and definitely his devoted love.