For nearly a decade, Bonnie has been quietly making a difference across the Niagara Region. The gentle Goldendoodle, who will turn 12 this October, has spent the last 10 years visiting seniors, students, brain injury survivors, and grieving families as part of Therapy Tails Ontario — bringing calm, comfort, and connection wherever she goes.
Based in Fenwick, Ontario, Bonnie and her owner, Elizabeth, regularly travel throughout Fonthill, Welland, and St. Catharines for therapy visits. Their schedule is a busy one: weekly visits to local senior residences and the DSBN Academy in St. Catharines, biweekly visits to Niagara College, monthly visits with brain injury clients in St. Catharines, and bereavement support visits through George Darte Funeral Home.
For Elizabeth, becoming involved with therapy work was something she had dreamed about long before Bonnie entered her life. After retiring from a career in caregiving, she knew she wanted to continue helping people in a meaningful way. When she mentioned her hopes to a local Goldendoodle breeder, the breeder immediately pointed to one particular puppy.
“She said, ‘This will be the one for you,’” Elizabeth recalled during the interview.
Even as a puppy, Bonnie stood out for her calm temperament. She was observant, gentle, and naturally drawn to people. By the time she was nearly a year old, Elizabeth had Bonnie evaluated and accepted into the program — and the two have been volunteering ever since.
Over the years, Bonnie has developed a reputation for sensing exactly who needs her most.
At senior residences, she remembers residents she has bonded with and will gently pull Elizabeth toward them before she even notices them in the room. At the DSBN Academy, students who once met Bonnie in high school now recognize her years later at Niagara College and excitedly come over to say hello.
For many people, Bonnie represents something deeply familiar and comforting. Elizabeth says residents living with dementia will often begin singing “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean” the moment they hear her name. International students away from home share photos of their own dogs while spending time with her. And seniors who once owned pets themselves often light up the moment Bonnie enters the room.
One of Bonnie’s most meaningful visits takes place during sessions with brain injury clients in St. Catharines. Elizabeth recalls one non-verbal young man in a wheelchair who typically avoided most dogs — except Bonnie. Over time, the two developed a special routine together. Bonnie gently places her paw on his knee while Elizabeth rewards her with a treat, creating a quiet moment of trust and connection.
But perhaps the moment that stayed with Elizabeth the most happened during one of Bonnie’s very first bereavement visits. As a grieving husband sat outside the visitation room, unable to bring himself to enter and say goodbye to his wife, Bonnie quietly walked over and sat beside him without being prompted. After several silent minutes together, the man finally stood up and softly said he was ready to go inside.
For Elizabeth, that moment confirmed what she had known all along — Bonnie was meant for this work.
Outside of volunteering, Bonnie enjoys a much more playful lifestyle. She loves chasing balls at the dog park, running after rabbits and squirrels in the backyard, going for walks, and greeting every visitor who comes to the house with enthusiastic tail wags. Her favourite toy is a bright orange Chuckit! ball, and her favourite game is simple: fetch.
But no matter how playful she may be at home, the moment Elizabeth pulls out the bright green Therapy Tails Ontario uniform shirt, Bonnie instantly knows it is time to work — and another day of comforting others is about to begin.
