The Humane Society of Tampa Bay

I adopted Rocky in fall of 2009 after my daughter was a few months old. Rocky and my daughter, Mirielle “Elle”, are now best of friends and he has inadvertently become her Therapy Angel. You see, as God would have it, Elle is developmentally delayed and deaf in one ear. She will soon be 3 and is not yet “verbal”. It may seem like a sad story so let me assure you it is anything but. Her developmental delays have been plentiful and were detected from the start. Fortunately, for us, we’ve had Rocky around, therefore they have been much easier to overcome.

Elle did not crawl “when kids should” but she did in her own time … to scoot around after Rocky. She did not walk “when kids should” but she did in her own time … to chase after Rocky. She did not communicate “when kids should” or “how kids who can hear should” but she did in her own time, her own way … to sign “dog” like Rocky. It was her first “word” in American Sign Language. Every milestone my blessed daughter has met has been with his help. She holds the leash every morning for his walks and he does not tug or yank her. She feed him treats after these walks as part of her routine. She puts food in his bowl when she see’s it is empty and she will sit with him and he will patiently wait while she feeds him by hand, one piece at a time.

He is a wonderful dog and I am so thankful to have found him through the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. You all do amazing things for the animals you help. I am so grateful for every one of you though I may not, have not, and will probably never meet you. Thank you.

~Diana Werner

Pictures:
1. My husband’s favorite pose: snaggle.
2. When Elle was just shy of one year he would watch her play in her “toy chair”.
3. They Hold Hands.
4. They just sit around.
5. And they snuggle, a lot.

She adores her dog.