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Jack the Comfort Dog Brings Joy to Seniors

Meet Jack, a Miniature Australian Shepherd who serves as a therapy dog for the seniors at Gulf Coast Village,  a Volunteers of America-sponsored retirement community in Cape Coral, Florida.

Jack, a salt-and-pepper Miniature Australian Shepherd, was the runt of the litter when Laura Diachenko went looking for a therapy dog to assist her in her work as senior living counselor at a Volunteers of America-sponsored retirement community in Cape Coral, Florida—too small, Laura feared, to be up to the task she had in mind for him.

But there was something about Jack—his mismatched eyes (one black, one brown) and the way he nuzzled Laura so affecionately—so she took a chance. And as you’ll see in the pictures in this gallery, her leap of faith paid off in spades.

Read Jack’s story from the April 2017 issue of Guideposts!

Jack relaxes with Laura Diachenko, his human, and Pastor Tom Hafer at the Gulf Coast Village in Cape Coral, Florida.

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Jack relaxes with Laura Diachenko, who adopted him, and Pastor Tom Hafer at the Gulf Coast Village in Cape Coral, Florida.


Jack and his handler, Roger Weiland, take a breather during a visit with a group of seniors participating in a Tai Chi class.

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Jack and his handler, Roger Weiland, take a breather during a visit with a group of seniors participating in a Tai Chi class.

Roger and Jack greet some of the residents of Gulf Coast Village.

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Roger and Jack greet some of the residents of Gulf Coast Village.


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Jack is very much the center of attention whenever he visits the seniors at Gulf Coast Village.


Roger and Jack have become the most recognized duo at Gulf Coast Village. Roger picks up Jack at 8 a.m. and they spend the rest of the day meeting and greeting residents.

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Roger and Jack have become the most recognized duo at Gulf Coast Village. Roger picks up Jack at 8 a.m. and they spend the rest of the day meeting and greeting residents.


Residents light up when they see Jack coming. His daily visits are definitely a highlight for them.

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Residents light up when they see Jack coming. His daily visits are definitely a highlight for them.

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