It seems amazing that Ted is so kind and giving after the rough start he had early in his life.

Anne found Ted and two other orphaned puppies wandering in a park on Syracuse's West side about ten years ago. He was four months old at the time. After taking the puppies home, Anne went to local parks looking for their "parents."

After having no luck locating their owner, she gave one of the puppies away to someone she had met at one of the parks. Another puppy went to a local assisted living facility.

Anne was left with Ted and just couldn't give him up. So she kept him.

"He gets along really well with my other dog," she said.

He's been a wonderful companion for Kate, Anne's Australian Shepherd.

Ted has been a therapy dog for about two years. He's also worked with St. Camillus patients for just as long.

Friendliness, attentiveness and obedience are some of the qualities that make Ted such a great therapy dog. He works very well with St. Camillus' patients. Though Anne admits that in certain situations he can be a little leery of young men. She says that he doesn't growl or try to bite them, he just usually won't turn his back to a young male who is nearby. Anne has a theory that Ted's behavior is a result of being abused or abandoned by a young man.

Psychological "baggage" can be tough, even for an adult dog. And although he may have his issues (who doesn't?), he's still one sweetheart of a dog to all who meet him—especially kids.

Anne and Ted regularly volunteer in a reading program at a local library. To the kids there, he's a big, cuddly teddy bear and they absolutely adore him.

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