A Tribute to Odin

Odin gained his wings and became a guardian angel dog on June 29, 2024. His therapy career spanned nearly seven years, with over 250 visits. He passed his first evaluation before turning three years old, a testament to his calm, loving, and solid demeanor. Odin’s first visit was to Stritch Medical School, which remained his favorite. Although he wasn’t fond of small spaces, we visited lobbies at retirement centers, the VA, a children’s clinic, Gottlieb nursing stations, and Loyola’s waiting rooms, along with occasional corporate visits where he charmed overworked staff.

However, Odin’s favorite places were schools. He would trot out of the car and head straight for the door. Odin never met a child he didn’t love. While some were hesitant to meet his large head face-to-face, his ever-wagging tail usually won them over. It was always a win-win: both left with a new friend that day.

When he wasn’t visiting, Odin’s favorite activities included walking to the park up the street every day, chasing squeaky tennis balls, and swimming in just about any body of water we came across. Luckily, he also enjoyed a good bath. Eating, of course, was his favorite thing to do, and I miss the familiar sound of his tags clinking against his metal bowl. I don’t think a better dog has ever set paws in our home, and we miss him dearly.