Atlanta therapy dog subject of new children’s book

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The Ronald McDonald House Charities around the world work to provide families with comfortable lodging while their children seek medical care.

And it’s not always humans putting in the work to make people feel at home.

Betty Lou, a 9-year-old golden retriever, wanders the premises on a weekly basis.

“What are you doing?” a man asks when Betty Lou approaches him for pets. “Where have you been?”

Betty Lou is the Atlanta Ronald McDonald House’s chief happiness officer.

She’s so popular in these parts that she’s the subject of a new children’s book.

“This is ‘Betty Lou Tours America,’” said co-author Matthew Eldridge. “It’s a children’s picture book.”

Eldridge co-wrote the book with his wife.

“If you’ve met Betty Lou, you know she’s the best certified therapy dog in the business,” he said.

In the book, Betty Lou travels to Ronald McDonald Houses across America to help sick children. From playing jazz in New Orleans to skiing in Colorado to riding horses in Texas, there’s seemingly no hobby Betty Lou can’t pick up.

It’s fictional, but Betty Lou’s impact is not, nor is it just for children.

“I actually have had kind of a stressful day going on today, so this is very good,” said Molly Anderson.

Anderson and her family are guests here as her young daughter receives medical care.

“Should we give her a hug?” Anderson asks before answering her own question. “I want to!”

Betty Lou provides a measure of calm reassurance to people whose lives are anything but.

The calming is something Eldridge knows.

“My wife almost died giving birth,” he explained. “She was in the ICU. My son was in the CICU.”

That’s how Eldridge met Betty Lou seven years ago.

“My son had three consecutive open-heart surgeries,” he said.

And so, you see, the final chapter of “Betty Lou Tours America” isn’t fiction at all.

“In the last chapter of the book, she helps my son heal so that he can be home for Christmas,” Eldridge said. “We were able to make that goal.”

Maybe next time, Betty Lou will travel the world.

“Wouldn’t that be fun?” Eldridge said.

“Betty Lou Tours America” is available at Barnes & Noble bookstores across the country. You can also buy it online at Google Books or Amazon.

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