In Memory of the Original Roxy
Friends,
It is with a tremendously heavy heart that we let you know that Roxy, our beloved pioneer and namesake of Roxy Therapy Dogs, has passed away at the age of 15.
If you were lucky enough to meet Roxy, then you know what a spunky, vivacious spaniel she was, but she also had a calm, loving side that made her a natural at comforting people of all ages.
We are forever indebted to Roxy (and Diane) for creating this amazing organization that is Roxy Therapy Dogs, and we know Roxy is watching over all of us with her cute little smile as we continue what she started.
Rest easy, sweet Roxy. You will be missed by many.
Sharon Fleck
President, Roxy Therapy Dogs
Roxy supplied an abundance of comfort and love to the children who knew her.
“Roxy makes me forget unhappy thoughts and feel like I am on a fluffy cloud.”
When Roxy was this young, she had no idea of the incredible legacy she would leave.
In Diane’s Words
Diane Smith, Roxy's owner and the Founder of Roxy Therapy Dogs, wrote us about sweet Roxy.
A second grader back in 2006 said it best, “Roxy makes me forget unhappy thoughts and feel like I am on a fluffy cloud.” To say she had that effect on a lot of people is an understatement.
My family was blessed to be entrusted with the care and keeping of Roxy, the Boykin Spaniel whose legacy will keep her spirit alive in our community for years to come. We sorrowfully sent her off to wherever the best dogs go a few nights ago. There is no doubt that it was time; her health had deteriorated to the point of no return. And yet, she was not miserable, still trying to leap through the snow with the help of her mom whose back still feels it!
It was therapeutic today to go through boxes of photos, news articles and cards from dozens of children all celebrating Roxy, the matriarch and namesake of Roxy Therapy Dogs. We had a great run, little brown dog.
And so I present just a few of her many accomplishments. Please say a prayer for my girl that she is pain free, running unobstructed, shaking that little Boykin tail and still keeping watch over her loving family.
We miss her so very, very much.
Roxy’s Many Accomplishments
Roxy, “Raquel of the Ridge,” delivered comfort to many children and adults, including:
hundreds of visits to students in Central Bucks schools
medically fragile children in Pedia Manor group homes (including a surprise Christmas morning visit!)
victims of violent crimes in the Bucks County District Attorney’s office
victims of abuse and neglect in Dependency Court
A Woman’s Place shelter
Beelong Adult Day Care
First Responders
Special Equestrians
and in rehab with a young stroke victim to name a few.
She has represented Roxy Therapy Dogs in professional settings with:
numerous judges
the Attorney General of the State of Delaware
Network of Victims Assistance
Tails of Hope Foundation
National Spaniels Club
Central Bucks School Board
Doylestown Hospital’s VIA
Comfort Caring Canines
Rotary Club of Doylestown
and at the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s Pathways for Victim Services Conference.
Roxy and the good works she inspired has been featured in:
the bestselling book “The Divinity of Dogs”
the AKC Gazette
Philadelphia Inquirer
Intelligencer
New Hope Gazette
Bucks County Herald
Fox News
Dtown Magazine and many more news outlets.
She was recognized with more awards than I can list here, from the Best Listener Award at Gayman Elementary School to Ambassador for the Boykin Spaniel breed at the National Dog Show.
She inspired the Commissioners of Bucks County to proclaim June 1, 2016 as “Roxy’s Comfort Dogs Day.”
Roxy was one of the inspirational Roxy therapy dogs featured in the popular “Be Like Bud” book.