Sully has started his new assignment.
Former PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush‘s service dog attended his Welcome Aboard Ceremony at Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, on Wednesday.
“In his new role, Sully will visit injured veterans, helping to provide comfort during rehabilitation center sessions and visit with families during what can be an emotional and very difficult time,” Valerie Cramer, Sully’s trainer at America’s VetDogs, said of thecanine’s new role at a news conferencein December.
Harvey Duze, WRNMMC Command Communications
Sully first won the public’s affection when he was placed with the late president — who had long been in a wheelchair due to a rare syndrome that mimics Parkinson’s — in June 2018.
The pair was together for only six months,but they became fast friends.
Sully was a constant at Bush’s side and evenwent to vote with the former presidentlast year.
After Bush died, Sully made headlines for his continued dedication,guarding Bush’s coffinand attending hiscasket viewing in the Capitol Rotunda.
Sully later returned to the America’s VetDogs campus in St. James, New York, where he was reunited with his trainer, who has been teaching the dog new tricks over the past several months.
“One of the tasks that I teach for the dogs at Walter Reed is that the dogs bowl for people,” Cramer said. “So I have a little set and we put it on the floor. Maybe there’s a child that has been in the hospital for a long time and hasn’t gotten out of bed for a while, so they can bowl with them.”
As Cramer mentioned, it was Bush’s wish to have Sully continue to serve those in need, specifically veterans.
George H. W. Bush’s service dog Sully is welcomed at a ceremony at Walter Reed on Wednesday.Harvey Duze, WRNMMC Command Communications
Sully at Walter Reed.America’s VetDogs/ Rebecca Eden
Bush’s granddaughterJenna Bush Hagerand her two daughters, Mila, 5, and Poppy, 3, also showed up to shower Sully with love ahead of his big move.
source: people.com
