STRONGSVILLE, Ohio — When your loved one is ready to move on to the other side, you hope they'll find comfort in a place of peace, serenity, and care.
At the Thomas P. Perciak Hospice of Southwest General, there's someone there to help.
His name is Winston. He's an 8-year-old Bernese mountain dog, about 125 lbs., and is the biggest lover you'll ever meet.
And, every day, he's providing something to families that can't be taught: Empathy and support.
"My sister and I were sitting out there just having a chat and here (Winston) comes in and he came right over to us and just loved up on us right away," said one woman at Southwest General who didn't want to be named.
"My husband was in hospice for just about 11 weeks until he passed. So we bonded with all of these people. It was wonderful. And (Winston) is just a bonus," Pat Pachtler said.
Pat's husband, Charlie, loved visits from Winston. Yet. he wasn't Winston's go-to.
"He always came by me and it was, it was a comfort. It was a pleasure. It was lovely," Pat said.
The thing is, Winston always knows who needs him the most.
Sue Griffith is Winston's owner. She adopted him as a puppy from a breeder who planned to use him as a show dog. But, Winston was destined for greater things.
"They did not want him going into a pet home. He would be my third certified therapy dog," Sue said.
Over the years, Winston has provided comfort to veterans and hospital patients across Northeast Ohio. Two years ago, he started at Southwest General.
"He will go into a room and it could be filled with people or just a person, and he'll lay alongside the bed or lay at the end of the bed and he'll just lay there," Sue said.
While he's a typical dog who loves treats and snuggles, Winston also has an innate sense of when people are about to cross over to the other side.
"I think what he's doing is he's taking care of the person, letting them know that it's okay. And this is the closest that you can get to that person," Sue said.
Sue and Winston are doing great work that only those who have touched by them understand.
"(Sue) was there with us for a long time. But the effort that she puts into transporting this huge animal is very, very touching. And we're forever grateful for them," Pat said.
If you ask Sue, she's being led by her gentle giant. A dog, whose love knows no bounds.
"Just how he's just touched other people ... and it doesn't matter who the person is or what the situation is. Before death, after death, during death, which is all a part of, you know, life," Sue said.
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