Actress-comedian and assistance dog champion, Betty White celebrates her 89th birthday today! What a role model and tireless advocate for assistance dogs and all animals everywhere.
We can all take a lesson in life from this bubbly, vivacious, hard-working, and dedicated individual. I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to visit with Betty on a couple of occasions and she is one of the most delightful, upbeat women I have had the chance to meet. Most recently she visited with me on Working Like Dogs on Pet Life Radio in celebration of National Assistance Dog Week. And she was the first person we thought of to write the foreword to Working Like Dogs: The Service Dog Guidebook. Betty can teach us so much about how to succeed in life and how to be true to ourselves and our causes.
Betty is truly passionate about animals and she has a special place in her heart for assistance animals. Perhaps that is due to her beloved golden retriever, Dinah, who Betty adopted when Dinah could no longer work as Tom Sullivan’s guide dog. Ironically, Dinah lost her vision and she could not perform the tasks that Tom depended on for his daily activities. Betty stepped in and welcomed Dinah into her home. She provided the love and support to both Tom and Dinah that enabled each of them to move forward to the next chapter of their lives. If you’re interested in a good read, check out Betty and Tom story about their experience in The Leading Lady: Dinah’s Story.
Betty is a renowned actress and animal activist. Happy Birthday to you dear one, and thank you for all the laughs you continue to give us and for all that you have done and continue to do for animals AND for individuals with disabilities. The world is truly a better place because you are in it!
