President Bush's Service Dog Sully Returns To Duty

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WASHINGTON —Sully H.W. Bush, the former service dog to late President George H.W. Bush, has started a new job with the US Navy at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington.

During a ceremony streamed live on Facebook Wednesday, the yellow Labrador was appointed to the rank of hospital corpsman second class.

“Your appointment as a petty officer in the United States Navy makes you heir to a long and proud tradition of naval leadership,” said a Navy spokesman at the Bethesda, Maryland, ceremony. The dog then was outfitted with a new “military uniform” — a vest representing the medical center’s dog team.

Sully joins the medical center’s facility dog program. His duties will include reducing stress and increasing well-being among patients and staff. Sully was assigned to President Bush through a request on his behalf after the passing of former First Lady Barbara Bush.

It’s about time we got some good news from Washington

Sully captivated hearts and minds everywhere last December when he staked out GHB’s casket. It took all of 3 seconds for the general population to fall in love with this very good boy.

And rightfully so because Dogs Are Awesome. That’s a 4-seam fastball of truth right down broadway. Give me a random dog over a random human being 10 out of 10 times. The percentage of dogs that are awesome compared to the percentage of people is actually overwhelming. I’m still waiting for our stats & information team to confirm but I think it’s something like 99% dogs to 6% people.

Anyways, my favorite part of Sully returning to action is that he took a personalized oath of enlistment. Seriously:

Do you affirm or pant as a hospital corpsman in the United States Navy that you will support, comfort and cure warriors and their families, active duty and retired?

That you embrace our staff and bear unconditional love and solace, especially on busy days?

That you take this obligation freely, without any promise of treats or tummy rubs and that you will faithfully discharge the duties to provide joy, love and nurturing for our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and sailors and their families?

Of course he does. We’re talking about Sully, a legitimate World Class pup. You don’t need to hold his behavior hostage with tummy rubs or treats. The guy’s showing up to put in a full day’s work whether you like it or not. Expect nothing less from a dog who can answer telephones.

Trained by America’s VetDogs to be a service, therapy and guide dog, Sully is capable of doing a number of tasks, from answering phones to turning lights on and off.

The Packers suck but that’s awesome. Go dogs. Go Sully.