EMMA ZEN CHIAPUZIO & AMBASSADOR DOC-BARKER

Photos BY Debra Jo Chiapuzio

Doc-Barker, the Canine Ambassador for the Make-A-Wish Foundation® and Emma Zen, the leader of TEAM O2™ (a nonprofit corporation for Pet Oxygen Masks) are—on top of all else they do—Therapy Dogs! It was over a year ago when these two dogs met at a Wellness Days Event, hosted by Cal State University in San Bernardino. An organization for therapy dogs had contacted both Sherry (Doc’s mom) and Debra Jo (Emma’s mom) about bringing their therapy dogs to the Wellness event so students could learn how to de-stress before taking their tests by spending time with the dogs. There were a lot of people and therapy dogs in a big room and Doc-Barker and Emma Zen were on separate sides of the room. “Doc-Barker made every effort to intermix with Emma Zen,” says owner Sherry Buchbinder. And Debra Jo says, “I’ve never seen Emma Zen so interested in another dog before. Somehow these two dogs just connected and really liked each other. It was as if they had been looking for each other forever, true and honest soul mates. They touch each other constantly as if it were a bond only someone in a long-term relationship would understand.” Both dogs travel to multiple states, and if there’s a pet event or expo in those areas with canines or kids you’ll probably see both dogs working! They brought together two humans who didn’t know each other at the start of their dog courtship, but now the moms have fast become good friends. “We really didn’t have a choice; if you saw them collectively you’d understand. Emma Zen is this old soul, and Doc-Barker is someone she knows and trusts,” Debra Jo says. Some things are just meant to be! You can follow both dogs on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/AmbassadorDocBarkeror www.facebook.com/emmazenchiapuzio.