Service Dog to Former President Will Assist Wounded Soldiers

Sully joined the American people in their mourning of former President George H.W. Bush this weekend. Sully was his service dog – a two-year-old yellow Lab Bush received in June of this year via America’s VetDogs.

On Sunday evening, Jim McGrath, the Bush family spokesman, tweeted a picture of Sully captioned: “Mission complete.” The faithful companion was lying in front of Bush’s casket. America’s VetDogs is a non-profit organization which helps to match veterans, service members on active-duty, and first responders with disabilities with trained service dogs. The former president was diagnosed with a form of Parkinson’s disease. To assist him, Sully was trained to pick up items, open doors, and summon assistance. He was also a great companion, accompanying Bush to cast his vote in Texas in the November midterm election.

Photo: Instagram/sullyhwbush

Sully will return to America’s VetDogs in New York. He’ll spend the holidays there prior to going to Bethesda, Maryland, to join the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center’s Facility Dog Program. There, he’ll work with other dogs to assist wounded soldiers and active-duty personnel with physical and occupational therapy. John Miller, President and CEO of America’s VetDogs, released a statement following the death of former President George H. W. Bush saying, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Bush family during this difficult time. It was truly an honor to have provided service dog Sully to be by the president’s side for the past several months.”