Keiko, the World Traveling Yorkie

Keiko, a little Yorkshire terrier, has gotten to see sights and visit places that most of us humans never get to see: The Eiffel Tower, Belgium, Paris, Niagara Falls, even a ride in a horse-drawn carriage through Central Park.

At home, though, Keiko, a dedicated therapy dog, visited Scripps La Joya Hospital, nursing homes, cancer and Alzheimer wards, even hospice facilities. In fact, Keiko and her handler, Julie, were one of the few teams certified to visit the hospital’s ICU ward.

Julie had dreamed of certifying Keiko, whose name means joy and happy in Japanese, from the time she got the little Yorkie pup at eight weeks. "I knew from that first day that she would be a wonderful therapy dog," Julie said. But, Julie was a full-time college student earning her bachelor’s degree and then a master's. After graduation, Julie went on to college administration full time, so her dream was delayed. Then, in 2006, Julie realized she was not happy in her job and, with her husband’s blessing, she left her career to devote herself full time to pet therapy work with Keiko.

Julie says her favorite visits were those to the Alzheimer patients. "Amazing," she said. "They always knew Keiko when we came and remembered her name." One day, when Julie and Keiko came to visit they met a lady visiting her mother. "She was so upset because her mother wasn’t talking and seemed locked in her own world." In came Keiko and to everyone’s amazement, the little dog reached the woman. She spoke to Keiko and reached out to her. "To me, I witnessed a miracle," said Julie, "and all the way home I had a big grin on my face."

As members of Love on a Leash, a national therapy pet organization, Julie, Keiko, and other members of her San Diego County Chapter were invited to make a presentation at Sea World about their therapy pets and the work they do. Keiko was a natural at the podium, and afterwards she got to meet one of the famous Clydesdales.

Sadly, Keiko passed away on February 5, 2009 suffering from COPD and lung problems which were brought on by the smoke and soot from the devastating fires in San Diego County a year earlier. "Our home was spared," said Julie, "but I lost my wonderful partner, Keiko."

After Keiko’s death, Julie was devastated and vowed to never have another dog. Hoping to provide some therapy for Julie, her husband booked a trip to Disney World. "I was standing in the gift shop for dogs when it hit me," said Julie. "It was April, but I was looking at holiday items for dogs and wondering how we would get through Christmas without a dog. I just broke down."

Back home, Julie made the decision to find another dog and luckily there was a Yorkshire terrier breeder in their area who had puppies. When Julie and her husband visited the pups, they just couldn’t decide on one so they came home with two. The two boys, as Julie calls them, are named Joy and Happy in honor of Keiko. They have already completed their first obedience class and will follow in Keiko’s paw prints as therapy dogs. They will have some big paws to fill, but Julie says she has already begun visiting the hospital staff with the boys in their stroller. And, the hospital administrator in charge of the pet therapy program has called Julie urging her to return to their program with the boys. At first, Julie had mixed emotions and thought the memories of Keiko’s visits might be too overwhelming, but after thinking it over, Julie has decided to return to the program once the boys are certified. Keiko would be so proud.

If you would like to contact Julie: Julie and the boys
Meet Lee’s therapy dog: Frosty
Help children understand nursing homes: Nurse Frosty 
Read all of Lee’s therapy pet profiles: Therapy Pets
See Keiko's video: Keiko