George H.W. Bush’s service dog, Sully, will soon move to Bethesda to help rehabilitate injured soldiers at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Sully, a 2-year-old Labrador retriever, was paired and trained specifically to assist the former president with daily tasks.
Bush died Friday at the age of 94, and is lying in state at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., before being transported to Texas for a Thursday funeral.
“As much as our family is going to miss this dog, we’re comforted to know he’ll bring the same joy to his new home, Walter Reed, that he brought to 41,” former President George W. Bush said in an Instagram post, referring to his father, who was the 41st U.S. president.
The social media post featured a picture of Sully lying next to Bush’s flag-draped casket.
At Walter Reed, Sully will assist with physical and occupational therapy for wounded soldiers and active-duty personnel during their recovery at the Bethesda hospital, according to a Facebook post from America’s VetDogs, the organization that trained and matched Sully with Bush.
Sully will spend the holiday season at America’s VetDogs’ Smithtown, New York, base before he joins the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center’s Facility Dog Program.
