Sully, a 2-year-old yellow Labrador, was famously photographed laying in front of President George H.W. Bush's casket.
Sully the service dog, famously photographed laying in front of President George H.W. Bush’s casket, will return to work shortly after the death of his owner, but this time with others who desperately needs him.
The loyal yellow Labrador returned to his faithful owner Tuesday, visiting the former president and his former handler’s casket in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda after accompanying Bush’s remains from Texas to Washington D.C.
The 2-year-old pup will be moving on to work with wounded and active-duty soldiers in their physical and occupational therapy at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland, according to America’s VetDogs, the organization that handles Sully.
Sully will have two co-workers in the role, service dogs Sgt. Dillon and Sgt. Truman.
“As much as our family is going to miss this dog, we’re comforted to know he’ll bring the same joy to his new home, Walter Reed, that he brought to 41,” President George W. Bush said in a statement.
In the meantime, the Bushs' loyal service pup will return to the organization’s headquarters in Smithtown, New York, where he will enjoy the holiday season before heading back to work.
Sully, named after the pilot who landed a plane in the Hudson River in 2009, Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, became Bush’s service dog this summer, after former first lady Barbara Bush passed away.
The organization paired Sully with Bush to support the former president in his daily activities – from answering the phone to picking up items.
Bush was living with vascular Parkinsonism, a neurological illness that bears Parkinson’s-like symptoms for which he used a motorized wheelchair to get around.
RELATED STORIES
