SARASOTA COUNTY (WSNN) – A service dog in training is making a career change, due to a medical issue. But she is still finding a way to serve others.
Sophie is a two-year-old lab who was training to become a service dog with the Southeastern Guide Dogs. But, there was a small problem with her optic nerve.
“It’s genetic,” Sophie’s owner Carol Sanders said.
She was not qualified to be a guide dog for the visually impaired, or a service animal for veterans or for families for children with special needs.
So, Sanders adopted her. While Sophie had a career change, her mission remained the same.
“Her personality is perfect for being a therapy dog,” Sanders said. “Her disposition just draws her to people and Sophie make people happy.
So now, she’s working at Serenity Place, the behavioral health unit at HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital. It’s a 16-bedded inpatient unit for all voluntary adults over the age of 50.
“The most common conditions are depression anxiety and PTSD,” Sarasota Doctors Hospital Dir. of Behavioral Health Janice McKendrick said.
Due to COVID-19, visitors have been restricted to this unit.
“No visitors for our patients has proved a challenge for them,” McKendrick said. “It does impact their mental health for sure.”
But a furry friend goes a long way in boosting spirits for these patients.
“Because they’re depressed, they have difficulty expressing enjoyment at this moment or recognizing what is still enjoyable,” McKendrick said. “For them having Sophie on the unit to visit absolutely replicates enjoyment.”
Sophie is official with a badge working at Serenity Place twice a week.
“She’s part of our team, she’s part of our therapeutic team,” McKendrick said.
Sophie may not be a guide dog, but she’s helping others in her own way.
“Watching her bring joy to people, brings joy to me,” Sanders said. “That’s why it’s just such an easy thing to do. We don’t consider it work or volunteering, it’s just part of what we do, sharing Sophie.”
Sophie is currently working to become a certified therapy dog.
