What's up dog?
Every day, JLo, my Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever comes to work with me at the National Vietnam Veterans Museum. More than just my companion, shes become an unspoken part of the museums heart. Among veterans, staff, volunteers, and visitors, JLo brings a quiet, steady kind of comfort that words often cant. Quite simply, she puts a smile on your face.
Her presence is a gentle reminder to slow down and find calm in the day. She has an extraordinary ability to sense when someone needs a moment of connection, whether its a veteran pausing in reflection, a volunteer needing a lift, or a visitor looking for a reason to smile.
For our staff and volunteers, shes a morale booster, a source of lightness, and a grounding presence.
And for me, living with stage 4 cancer, JLo has been invaluable. She keeps me moving, lifts my spirits, and reminds me daily of the importance of simple joys and unwavering companionship.
JLo isnt just a pet. Shes part of our team, a bridge between people, and a quiet, powerful example of how the smallest gestures of unconditional connection can mean the most.JLo finds the people who need her, and somehow always knows when."
