Fate’s wonderful work in her first week as a therapy dog has upended the dog world at Bedlam Farm. Her identity as a creature of love, not only about running around in circles, has emerged.

Maria is convinced that Fate was not ever really interested in herding the sheep, she is just too sweet for it. I’m not so sure, but it doesn’t matter.

I took Fate to the Mansion today, her fourth session as a therapy dog, three there and one in Albany, and I can already see how much the residents and the staff loves her enthusiasm and happiness whenever she sees any single one of them.

Maria gave her a sweet kiss on the head when she got home (above), Maria felt I was somewhat disappointed in Fate, and that our working together will be a gift to both of us. I think she is right about that.

I am certainly impressed with her instincts, we walked the Mansion halls today greeting individual residents, I think we have met three-fourths of them. The response to Fate has been overwhelming, I am excited to keep working with her and training her.

I am very surprised at how much she loves this work, how much genuine enthusiasm she gets from being hugged and touched by people, most of whom are much older than the people who have been around her. This tells me there is something inside of her that really wants this work.

I have to work to trust her so that we can both be comfortable and get to the business at hand: comforting people and listing their spirits. She’s done a lot of that already.