Issaquah Nursing and Rehabilitation Center residents made a new four-legged friend on March 16 when Truitt the Sheltie paid a visit to the home with his owner, Issaquah resident Laurie Wilson.

Truitt has spent seven of his nine years visiting hopsitals and nursing homes to provide therapy to patients through the Pet Partners program. Wilson estimates that Truitt has visited about 5,000 patients in his life.

“I know how much joy and comfort it brings them,” Wilson said. “A lot have dogs or have had dogs. It brings them so much comfort to have a fluffy, sweet dog like Truitt there.”

Wilson, who is assistant director of sales at Homewood Suites, and Truitt make weekly trips to Swedish Medical Center Issaquah and bi-monthly trips to Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue. On special occasions, he visits Briarwood Health Center at Timber Ridge at Talus, the Issaquah Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Camp Korey in Carnation.

The canine delighted Issaquah Nursing residents with tricks such as turning left and right on command and leaping into Wilson’s arms.

Truitt’s talents have not gone unrecognized — he brought along his ribbons to show off to residents.

“He competes in agility,” Wilson explained, noting that he has won ribbons at the Argus Ranch in Auburn, the Seattle Kennel Club, the Rose City Classic inPortland and even as far away as Wisconsin.

Truitt is not a common dog name. Wilson said that she has never met another dog with the same name at competitions. The pooch received his name from Wilson’s great-great-grandfather. She had the name in mind for a while, but did not decide on it until she met her new dog face-to-face.

“When I saw him, I knew it,” she said.

Truitt jumps into owner Wilson’s arms at the Issaquah Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on March 16. The prize-winning pooch spent an hour performing tricks for the delighted residents.

Through the Pet Partners program, Wilson takes Truitt to local nursing homes and hospitals as a form of therapy for patients. Nicole Jennings/staff photo