The Villages - April 2022 - 5

We were at a memory
care unit yesterday ... It's animals
and music that these people love. It
brings back such memories.
- Morgan Sterling
Morgan and Leah also love attending costume contests
and showing off their matching costumes when they
get the chance. In February, Morgan and Leah got to
show off their butterfly wings. Leah stole the show,
though, with her glamorous pink tutu. However, Leah is
no typical princess. You can often catch her and Morgan
frequenting Lake Sumter Landing and putting a smile on
everyone's face.
" We walk around, " Morgan said. " There are generally
people sitting outside, so we always ask if Leah can come
and meet them. "
It's generally easy to confuse a therapy dog with a service
dog, which you can't pet; not with Leah, though. From the
dazzling pink name tag dangling from her leash reading in
bold white letters, " Leah, " to her therapy vest, Leah makes
it joyfully clear that she's willing to socialize.
" My therapy vest actually says 'pet me,' " Morgan said.
" You think it's a service dog and you can't touch her, but
not with therapy dogs. "
Morgan and Leah assist in the certification process for
other therapy dogs as well by serving as testers. Meeting
with the other owners and their dogs, Morgan and Leah test
the dogs in several situations and their ability to respond to
commands and their overall manner.
" The first is called a meet-and-greet, " Morgan said. " Then
we have to go to three different facilities. They must meet the
requirements at each facility. After the third successful visit,
they send all the paperwork to the Association of Therapy
Dogs in Wyoming. Then they send back a certification
paper. " A therapy dog is expected to be able to remember
up to 100 commands. At the moment, however, Morgan is
trying to get Leah to weigh in with her opinion using the
famous Staples button stating, " That was easy. "
" When we do a trick, I'll say 'Is that hard?' Morgan said.
" And she'll go over and push the button and it actually says,
'That was easy.' "
When they aren't busy putting smiles on people's faces,
Morgan enjoys watching Leah splash around in the water
at Fort DeSoto.
" She truly is a princess, " Morgan said, chuckling.
MAGAZINE
5
The Villages - April 2022

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