Shannon Ratliff
When President George H.W. Bush passed away in December 2018, mourners nationwide were captivated by a single image that we still haven’t forgotten. That photo of the pup in front of Bush’s casket, shown below, is a somber reminder of the way service dogs are trained. The former president’s service dog, Sully, is a Labrador retriever, named after the iconic airline pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III, the man who saved all passengers and crew aboard when he landed a passenger jet on the Hudson River in 2009 in New York. Sully the Lab is following in his namesake’s footsteps with this new assignment. No longer will the gorgeous pup be former President George H.W. Bush’s service dog, he will now serve at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as part of the Facility Dog Program in Maryland.
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America’s VetDogs posted an update on the Facebook page, updating the world on the yellow Labrador’s next post.
“Many of you have been asking about what Sully will do next, and we appreciate all of the love you have for him.
Sully will be joining the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center’s Facility Dog Program.
He will be working alongside fellow VetDogs facility dogs SGT Dillon and SGT Truman who are there to assist with physical and occupational therapy to wounded soldiers and active duty personnel during their journey to recovery at Walter Reed Bethesda.”
Sully served the Bush family well as he came to the family after Bush’s Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. Trained by America’s VetDogs, a nonprofit organization that preps service dogs for service to military veterans, wounded veterans, and first responders. Sully was spotted on the TODAY show this morning with Jenna Bush Hager and her sweet girls, where they said their goodbyes to service dog Sully.
Sully will go on to spread his love at Walter Reed Hospital. He was a loving companion when my Gampy needed him most. My girls adored him—and wanted a final goodbye… https://t.co/8E9HZL6bxM
— Jenna Bush Hager (@JennaBushHager) February 21, 2019
Sully seems like such a gentle soul, albeit a little sad. The pup even has his own Instagram, which you should absolutely follow.
There’s really only one thing you can say of Sully. He is a very, very good boy indeed.
