ELI, THE BELGIAN SHEEPDOG, MEETS THE KIDS AT RONALD McDONALD HOUSE IN NEW YORK CITY
November 11, 2011 • Trends
Eli, the Belgian Sheepdog who comforted New York City victims and first responders of the terrorist attacks of 2001, interacted with some 20 health-challenged children Thursday in his first therapy dog visit to the Ronald McDonald House in New York City.
Eli, The 2011 Therapy Dog Ambassador for “The National Dog Show Presented by Purina®,” which will air on Thanksgiving day on NBC from noon-2p.m. following the Macy’s Parade, has retired from the show world to work as a therapy dog and is one of the few working canines still alive, who was on hand that fateful day in 2001, stationed at the command post in Jersey City at Liberty State Park, interacting with evacuees across the Hudson River from Ground Zero.
Eli brought a smile to the faces of all the children, including Jacob Andrew, a four and a half year-old from Manitowoc, Wisconsin; London Dally, a 22-month old from Pen Argyl, PA; Gage Suther from Birmingham, AL; and Ethan Mendenhall of Mesquite, NV. All are seeing cancer specialists or undergoing treatment at Sloan-Kettering or other New York City hospitals.
“What a great therapy dog,” offered Cherilyn Frei, Chaplain at the Ronald McDonald House, who organizes such visits on a regular basis. “Eli loves the attention and the kids love the attention and the parents appreciate the volunteer work.”
The Ronald McDonald House supports families of children with cancer, providing a fun environment outside the home where kids can play with siblings and each other, meet celebrities and engage in fun activities, like interacting with Eli.
For nearly 35 years, the Ronald McDonald House has been committed to creating, finding, and supporting programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. Staffers continually work to improve and expand core programs, while also developing new services to address the unique needs of the communities they serve.
Photo: Gage Suther of Birmingham AL, strokes his new friend, Eli at the Ronald McDonald House in New York City Thursday as his mother, Shantille, looks on. Gage is battling Faconi Anemia, a cancer precursor, and staying at the Ronald McDonald House while undergoing treatment. Eli visited with some 20 health-challenged children in his role as the Canine Ambassador for the National Dog Show Presented by Purina.
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