Dogs change and so do people.

After working together for two years, Adam and Madison found their relationship changing. Adam was going to high school, and couldn't always maneuver Madison through the hallways, or work her in the classroom. He decided to leave her home during the day, but Madison still wanted to be working. She began to gain weight, and missed her old life. In the spring of 2002, we started to talk about alternative careers for Madison, who clearly wasn't ready for an early retirement. Oregon did not always agree with her sensitive skin and multiple allergies, and it seemed a good time to make a move back east. By the fall of 2002, we had come up with a plan: Madison would move back to her first home, try to get her medical problems under control, and embark on a second career.

Madison came back to Boston in January 2003. She flew first class because she couldn’t fit in coach any more . . . She crossed the Boston common and rolled in the snow , a true New Englander. As we came to our house she began to get excited, but the real glee came from seeing her old pals Kootenay and Temoku.

The first order of business was her health, and that meant DIET. To learn about Madison’s weight loss click here

Madison became a great outreach dogs for NEADS, visiting classrooms and nursing homes, including the Shrewsbury middle school on her sixth birthday

Madison started coming to clinic at MGH almost immediately. She got to know “her” room and the staff looks forward to her visits. Frequently we are asked what she does. Here is the short answer: She makes people happy. The long answer might fill a book, but on a typical day last week, here are some of the things she did:

Made everyone on the commuter rail put down their reading material and smile when she got on. Stopped to say hello to several staff members in the hall on her way to clinic. Greeted those waiting for their appointments in the waiting room (why ARE doctors always running late?!?!?) Helped a scared little boy get up the courage to come in for his appointment. Greeted a young family, anxious about the diagnosis they were going to hear. Provided a welcome diversion for a 2 year old whose mother couldn’t get a baby sitter for her appointment. Walked around with 5 and 7 year old sisters who got bored with their parents endless questions of the doctor. Stopped on her way out to greet an 18 month old in her stroller and give kisses to her sad mother who just learned she needed a prolonged hospitalization for weight gain.

On June 2, 2003 Madison passed her ADI test for the second time, and on October 26 she will proudly graduate from NEADS as an official service dog for therapy.