VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Puppy Profile: Bodhi the Therapy Dog
Madyson Diaz: And now for you animal lovers out there — we all know our furry friends love to keep us company and play around. And well, I got the chance to meet one dog who does all that and much more.
Diaz: Meet Bodhi. He’s a three year old golden retriever with quite the resume.
Lynn Coates: He’s an American Champion, a Canadian Grand Champion, and he’s a United Kennel Club Champion. He’s won a reserve Best in Show. He was in a play at Gillette Middle School. He was Sandy in Orphan Annie.
Diaz: But when he’s not taking home trophies or stealing the show, Bodhi’s bringing comfort to others as a therapy dog. He was one of three dogs at research and development company SRC’s Wellness Day, and quickly became a fan favorite.
Emma Stanford: The dogs are so gentle and, like, so well-behaved that you can just sit with them and pet them. And they’re like so calming, and especially like the golden retriever.
Diaz: Amy Dunham organized the wellness day. As a Department of Defense Contractor, she says SRC employees work very high stress jobs, and the dogs help ease that stress.
Amy Dunham: They’re just so innocent, right? They just bring, like, a loving presence. There’s no judgment, you know? There’s just something about it that makes people happy.
Diaz: That comfort takes on extra meaning in places like Upstate Galisano Children’s Hospital.
Coates: Sometimes it makes me emotional, especially at Galisano…but while we’re in the room, everybody’s happy.
Now, Bodhi wears pink flowers — a tribute to a young girl he met there who passed away over the summer. It’s a small reminder that every visit is more than just a stop on the schedule — it’s a chance to bring support, one tail wag at a time.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Before he was comforting hospital patients or greeting engineers at company wellness events, Bodhi was just a playful six-month-old golden retriever starting obedience classes.
When his owner, Lynn Coates, enrolled him in a Canine Good Citizen class, the instructors saw something special in him right away.
“The teachers were like ‘You need to make him a therapy dog.’ And it was the best thing I ever did.” she recalled.
That advice set Bodhi on a path that would change both of their lives.
Now three years old, Bodhi has built quite the resume. He’s an American Champion, a Canadian Grand Champion, and a United Kennel Club Champion. He’s even won a reserve Best in Show and once starred as Sandy in a local middle school production of Annie.
But beyond the ribbons and trophies, Bodhi’s biggest impact comes from his work as a therapy dog, where he brings comfort and support to people across Central New York.
Oct. 15th, he was one of three dogs visiting SRC, Inc., a local research and development company, for its Wellness Day. Within minutes, he had everyone smiling.
“The dogs are so gentle and well-behaved that you can just sit with them and pet them,” one employee said. “They’re so calming — especially the golden retriever.”
For Amy Dunham, who organized the event, that reaction is exactly the goal. As a Department of Defense contractor, SRC employees work in high-stress environments — and a visit from therapy dogs can make a big difference.
“They’re just so innocent,” Dunham said. “They bring a loving presence. There’s no judgment — there’s just something about it that makes people happy.”
Bodhi also spends time at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, visiting young patients and their families. Coates says those visits can be difficult, but deeply rewarding.
“Sometimes it makes me emotional,” she said. “Especially at Golisano… but while we’re in the room, everybody’s happy.”
Now, Bodhi wears his therapy vest adorned with pink flowers, a small but powerful tribute to a young girl he met at the hospital who passed away over the summer. It’s a reminder that every visit matters, and every doggy smile carries meaning.
Bodhi’s gentle presence continues to bring light and comfort wherever he goes — one tail wag at a time.