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This is the story of a cavalier cousin, the English Toy Maramond Baby Grand, Sam-Henry, bred by Martha Guimond, and owned by Dawn Glaser Falk. While living with Dawn, Sam-Henry has won the highest agility titles and provided important contributions to his breed, but he also lived for a short time with an elderly couple, Chuck and Florence. Unfortunately, when Chuck and Florence had health care issues and could no longer live at home, Sam-Henry went back to live with Dawn, where he became a therapy dog, extraordinaire! Yardlea is his great-granddaughter. Dawn wrote the following:
The attached pictures were taken last Wednesday. Chuck went into Hillcrest
Health Care Center in Mankato about three weeks ago and Sam-Henry and I have gone down for a visit each Wednesday since then. Last week, Chuck was up and about and even shared his root beer float with his little buddy. Yesterday, Chuck was in bed, sort of drifting in and out of the present, talking gibberish at times but also answering some questions accurately. I placed Sam-Henry on the bed next to him and Chuck grabbed his collar and just held on. He said "Sam-Henry, now don't you leave me this time." When I visited with Chuck, he always asked who I was, who brought Sam-Henry, where had Sam-Henry been, where did I come from (Princeton), etc. I gave Chuck the same answers each time and that seemed to satisfy he. Yesterday was no exception. I brought a banana so that Chuck could share it with Sam-Henry as he had done every day for the few years they lived together. I told Chuck "I brought a banana!" and he said, "I don't want that G-d d-mn thing." I laughed and gave a few bites to Sam-Henry so the little guy wouldn't get cheated out of his treat. Chuck held onto Sam-Henry's collar extra tightly yesterday, so much so that I
had to loosen it as the weight of Chuck's hand seemed uncomfortable. But he didn't squirm or try to get away. He pawed at Chuck a couple of times and sneezed on him, of course. That's an ET "must". After about 45 minutes and as Chuck seemed to rest comfortably and sleep more heavily, we left and went to visit Florence, where little Yardlea was a super hit, letting Flo hug her and stroke her and kiss her endlessly. Flo called early this morning to let me know that Chuck passed away during the night. Sam-Henry's work is done. I think Yardlea will be Florence's therapy dog.  
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