Welcome!

Editor's Note: Well this has been a long time coming and eventually we got here! My name is Alison and I am the proud owner of an English Bulldog named, Van Etten's Waltzing Matilda, but everyone calls her Tilly. She has been bringing joy to everyone who crosses her path since the moment I took her home, but luckily I do not keep her love all to myself. You see, Tilly has a very important job, which is to bring a smile to children's faces who may not feel well or have special needs that only she can meet! She is a mere three years old (and some) and has been working for 2.5 years at Monmouth Medical Center Children's Hospital, The Valerie Center at Monmouth Medical Children's Hospital, and The School for Children.


Here is a story, from Tilly's perspective from when I first realized she could become a certified Therapy Dog. Let me know what you think!

Hello All—My name is Matilda, but all of my friends call me Tilly, and I LOVE CHILDREN—can you tell. My Mom knew before she got me that if I had the right temperament, discipline, and will she was going to train me for this position—and guess what I did. Something happened on one of my very first trips to the beach, it was the first sign that there was something special about me that my mom could not ignore. The story goes like this—We had finished our romp and walk on the beach and we were heading back to the car when all of a sudden i stopped and would not budge. Mom kept telling me to "HEEL-UP" and "LET'S GO"—but I was not having it. I was standing my ground. Mom could not figure out what I was doing, she looked to the North, then to the South but there was no one around—not a dog, or a cat, not even a bird. She was total bewildered.......then out of nowhere a small child came bounding over the sand dunes, then another. They were running and giggling and have a grand time. Well I just could not contain myself—I was pulling and pulling and trying to get my Mom to bring me over the see those children. So finally my Mom approached the children and their parents and asked if they wanted to pet me. But the children were afraid and stood back. Their Mother had told my Mom that when they were very, very young there was an incident with a dog that spooked the entire family, and ever since that day they stayed far away from dogs. Well I heard them talking and I knew that I wanted those children to be my friend so I sat very politely right next to their Mom's feet and waited patiently. Finally the Mother started to pet me and was shocked to hear that I was only a few months old—she thought I was so nice and gentle for such a young dog. Then the children started to come to me—but I got excited and stood up and started to do my famous "Bully butt wiggle and head-bob." Well this scared them and they retreated—so I sat back down and when they came near me again I stood up and turned around. My Mom was shocked—I actually turned my back to the kids so they would not be intimidated by me. Once I had sat back down and I had my back to them they came right up to me and started to pet me. I was in heaven—I love little-hand massages—it is the best. Well my Mom just could not believe what she was seeing—she was thinking, "Did Tilly just turn around so that those kids would not be afraid of her—nah, no way. It had to be a coincidence." Well guess what it was no coincidence—from that day forward if I meet anyone and they recoil or retreat I turn around and sit with my back facing them so that they are more comfortable coming up to pet me! I am not sure if I love the kids more or all of the attention they give me—well whatever the case I love them and I love my job. After I went through numerous training classes my Mother and I went to get tested for the AKC Canine Good Citizen and the Therapy Dogs International test. I got certified at a mere 1 year old—which is the absolute youngest a dog can be to be certified—and I have been working three days a week since April of 2007! This has been not only a rewarding but also enriching experience for me and my Mom—we have made so many buddies throughout the months—it is something that is hard to put into words but, it is truly AMAZING!!! Thanks for listening to my story—big bully Love—Tilly.