When John Kemp became President of Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham, he hired a new employee—Tune, the yellow lab support dog. In Kemp’s previous position in New York, he saw how impactful a facility dog was to the organization’s staff and members. He decided to provide the same kind of canine support to those at Lakeshore.
Born, raised, and trained through America's VetDogs in Smithtown, New York, Tune took her basic obedience training in Athens, Georgia. She returned to America's VetDogs to receive her formal specialized training to work as a facility dog. Tune’s two handlers are Lori Watkins, Lakeshore’s Coordinator of Recreation and Athletics, and Emily Mallard, the Coordinator of Aquatics.
The Lakeshore Foundation, established in 1923 as the Jefferson Tuberculosis Sanatorium, began providing opportunities for people with physical disabilities in the early 1970s, completing its transition to Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital in 1973. When the Lakeshore board decided that the hospital’s sports and recreation work with people with disabilities needed to have its own facility, in 2001 they built and opened the Lakeshore Foundation Fieldhouse. Two years later, the facility was designated as a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site offering a heated indoor aquatics center with two pools, a 6,000-square-foot fitness area, a gym, track, spacious men’s and women’s locker rooms, and so much more.
“Our mission at Lakeshore is to enable people with physical disabilities and chronic health conditions to lead active, healthy, and independent lifestyles through physical activity, sports recreation, advocacy, policy, and research,” Emily Mallard explains.
Over the past two years, Tune has been a wonderful addition to Lakeshore’s staff as their Chief Canine Officer.
“She has been part of many different areas of the organization, including aquatics, fitness, recreation, athletics, and children’s summer camps,” Lori says.
Tune helps promote a variety of programs and activities hosted by Lakeshore. She often welcomes members as they come into the front lobby, helps guide tours of the facility with guests and potential members, visits with athletic teams, attends tournaments, and retrieves balls and equipment for staff.
Tune has also attended events at several community schools, helping with sports programs and physical education classes.
Last summer, she attended the closing ceremonies of the national sports competition held in Birmingham. Tune has her own business card as well as a social media account on Instagram, with over 700 followers!
“She has also changed the environment for staff at Lakeshore,” Lori says. “She makes coming to work so much more fun.”
One of Tune’s favorite roles is her work with Lakeshore’s youth programs. She is trained specifically to work with physically disabled children of all ages and stages of disabilities.
“The impact she has made on our youth has been exciting to watch,” Lori says. “She has helped break the ice with kids who are shy about coming to Lakeshore for the first time and with children who have been apprehensive about pool therapy.”
A gentle dog, Tune befriends the children, helping them to overcome their initial fears of therapy. She often sits beside the more nervous children, encouraging them to do their exercises. The children love and trust Tune, their faces lighting up when they see her.
“Kids bring her treats and prizes all the time,” Lori says. “They give her treats when she obeys commands well. And Tune gives them the best kisses!”
Tune has proven herself a much-loved ambassador of Lakeshore, creating the kind of atmosphere that encourages and supports youth and children, and helps their dedicated staff better fulfill Lakeshore’s mission.
The children love and trust Tune, their faces lighting up when they see her.