Perhaps you know that Bailey visits children in hospital to support them and their families. However, did you know that Bailey also visits expectant mothers in the hospital? While children get priority, Bailey visits the obstetrics ward once a week, so that expectant mothers can also receive the pleasure of his company. Bailey enjoys the visits too.

Starting from today (Friday November 11), the book, “I Love Bailey – Therapy Dogs and the Children at Pediatric Hospitals” will go on sale, published by Shogakukan.

A book chronicling the Shine On!, Therapy Dog Program‘s activities will be on sale next month from Shogakukan. It is a heartwarming book with wonderful photographs.

Shiori, a young elementary school student wanting to research therapy dogs for her summer vacation independent research assignment, came to visit Bailey. She had seen therapy dogs on TV and wanted to know more.

Bailey, our therapy dog working hard at Shizuoka Children’s Hospital, has regular check-ups and vaccinations. Today I would like to present a message from Mr. Kyutan, a vet at Kyutan Veterinary Clinic and Bailey’s owner.

The other day, Bailey’s number one supporter, Yuzuki (age 2), sadly passed away. She was a child that Bailey had been meeting ever since he went on a week-long “test visit” to Shizuoka Children’s Hospital a year and a half ago. She was a very special person to Bailey and me. Even though she had difficulty standing up, whenever she found Bailey she would go “Ah!” and lean over and pet Bailey with a big smile.

The mother of a child carrying a soft toy dog was telling me how “He named it Bailey.” Hearing this, I remembered that there were several children like that.

The other day I was asked to give a lecture at a nursing school in Shizuoka. So I went. I have given presentations at hospitals and conferences before, but this was my first experience being called on to be a formal lecturer. In front of over 100 students and professors I spoke about the Tyler Foundation, the role of therapy dogs, and the goals we are aiming for.

Many of the children were not able to sing the school song very loudly during the middle school graduation ceremony. However, the children practiced their hearts out and even though there weren’t many singers, the chorus was absolutely beautiful. Everyone broke into tears. I was there and I had tears streaming down my face like everyone else.

This month, I would like to introduce a child’s essay about a meeting with Bailey that was entered into a Japan Animal Welfare Society essay contest and won the elementary school category “Showa Hall Prize.” The child received the prize at the awards ceremony in Tokyo, and showed the prize to Bailey.