INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Willie, a 13-year-old therapy dog, is retiring from his role at One Pet at a Time, a mobile pet therapy ministry founded by Tawny Robbie.

Willie has been a beloved therapy dog, providing comfort and joy to people in hospices, schools, and adoption events. His retirement marks the end of a significant chapter for One Pet at a Time, which has been dedicated to bringing happiness to those in need.

Robbie has been working with Willie to bring joy to various communities. “We’ve been doing a lot of work with a new hospice this past year,” she said. In addition to Willie, Tawny also works with an alpaca named Marcus, who is also retiring.

“I have a new one coming up,” she said, referring to Nella, a puppy in training to become the next therapy dog, and Grayson, a therapy alpaca in training.

The work of therapy animals like Willie can have profound effects on people. Tawny shared a story of a hospice resident who responded to Willie’s presence even in her final moments, illustrating the deep connection and comfort these animals provide.

Tawny emphasized the importance of ensuring that therapy animals enjoy their work and retire when they show signs of fatigue. “He’s been showing some signs that he’s getting tired,” she said about Willie, highlighting the need for his well-deserved retirement.

This story was formatted for WISHTV.com using AI-assisted tools. Our editorial team reviews and edits all content published to ensure it meets our journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness.

About The Author

See author's posts