Wynne with a resident in the memory care unit at a senior living center.

When we put out the call for photos for our Cutest Pet contest, Controller Nancy Lepic responded promptly with pictures and some background on her dog Wynne. Nancy explained that she and her husband, Steve, adopted Wynne about eight years ago from the Wisconsin Humane Society, which had saved the dog — who was suffering from heartworm — from euthanization in a shelter in Kentucky.

“Three treatments are required to eradicate the disease. The Humane Society had given Wynne two treatments when we adopted her, so we had to commit to providing the third,” Nancy says. “Dogs undergoing treatment for heartworm need to be kept quiet and should not be allowed to exercise until the parasite is fully eliminated, which can take several months — overexertion can cause heart failure. Wynne is pretty calm naturally, but it was still a little challenging. You can’t exactly explain to a dog that she’s not allowed to run around outside or even walk to the end of the block.”

Once Wynne had recovered enough for daily walks, Steve started receiving comments from other dog owners about her calm demeanor and how well behaved she was. Some suggested that Wynne would make a good therapy dog — a dog trained to offer comfort and affection to people in hospitals, nursing homes, or similar facilities.

Wynne, up front, at a local day care. “The beast in the back row is a Leonberger, a friend of hers,” Nancy says. “Wynne weighs 25 pounds; he weighs 115 pounds.”

So after completing basic obedience training at PetSmart, Wynne entered a therapy dog accreditation program offered by Pets Helping People, a Milwaukee nonprofit. The program assessed Wynne’s temperament, her comfort level with strangers, and Steve’s control over her. When she passed the assessment, Wynne began a four-week training class.

“The hardest thing for Wynne to master was the ‘leave it’ command,” Nancy says. “The trainer administering the test scatters dog treats around the floor, and the dog has to navigate past all of the treats, obeying the handler’s command to ‘leave it’ alone. Wynne is especially tempted by Pup-Peroni.”

Now, Wynne gets regular assignments through Pets Helping People and its partners. She is part of a troupe of dogs called Waggin’ Tails, who visit senior living centers, schools, hospitals, and other similar places to put on educational demonstrations, perform tricks, and enjoy some cuddles with audience members. She and Steve also visit a senior living center in Mequon every Friday, offering companionship to residents suffering from dementia and others.

Ready for snuggles.

“She helps folks forget their aches and pains or other troubles for at least a little while,” Nancy says. “The residents say her visits give them something to look forward to. She has also helped people who have had a stroke with speech therapy, and she’s helped children with reading and writing skills.”

And Wynne shares the love with her own family, too, of course.

“Steve’s mother, Mary, is one of Wynne’s biggest fans. She lives in an assisted living center in Iowa,” Nancy says. “Wynne weighs 25 pounds, so she is a little big to be a lap dog — however, my mother-in-law encourages Wynne to sit in her lap and Wynne is happy to stay there for hours.”