'Lewis County Director of Fluff': Meet Clyde, the Lewis County Veterans Service Office's new therapy dog in training
The ChronicleApr 13, 2024
Apr. 11—Lewis County staff members knew Clyde was a special dog from the moment they met him.
He was originally picked up as a stray puppy, rescued on
With his incredibly docile nature and relaxed disposition, the young puppy caught the attention of the Lewis County Veterans Service Office. Members of the office are now Clyde's handlers. They plan to have him trained as an official therapy dog.
His mother, a Great Pyrenees, has since been adopted. While Clyde's exact breed is still unknown, it is believed he is a Great Pyrenees and poodle mix.
For now, he's the "
The affable canine is currently undergoing basic command training and socialization with county staff and veterans every week at the
The Chronicle first met Clyde last month in
One of Clyde's handlers — Lewis County Veterans Service Officer (VSO)
"Then he will get all of the training and certification and be certified to do what he already does now naturally on his own," Palmer said. "Being 5 months old, it's extremely impressive for a dog, especially one that came from our animal shelter that was roaming the streets of
Clyde is effective at bringing his own calmness and peace to those around him, Palmer said. A
"I always make sure to ask if they're afraid or nervous around dogs first, and if they are fine with him, he'll just lay down at their feet and you can see their demeanor just change as they go, 'I'm OK, I'm alright,'" Palmer said. "And then Clyde will go over and give them a lot of kisses, if they allow it."
As part of his basic training, Clyde spends every Wednesday around lunch time at the
Additionally on Wednesdays, the
"He makes a great little icebreaker," Duncan said. "... Today, they were here at 10 (a.m.), waiting for Clyde."
"Watching him navigate around the tables and the chairs, doing his Hoover duties, getting all the dropped scraps, but also just bringing smiles everywhere," Palmer added.
She said originally the county wasn't even looking for a therapy dog.
"He just happened to fit right in and be that perfect missing piece that we didn't know was missing," Palmer said.
One veteran at the museum on Wednesday,
"After my last dog, I said I would never have another dog," Cheek said. "But I would have this dog."
For more information, follow the museum on Facebook or visit https://www.veteransmuseum.org/.
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