Dayo’s Journey: From Cheetah Companion to Hero Therapy Dog

Summary

Podcast Summary: Robin's Nest from American Humane

Episode Title: Dayo’s Journey: From Cheetah Companion to Hero Therapy Dog
Release Date: March 17, 2025
Host: Dr. Robin Ganzert
Guest: Liz Stewart, Therapy Dog Handler
Featured Dog: Dayo, a Rhodesian Ridgeback Therapy Dog

---

Introduction

In this heartwarming episode of Robin's Nest, Dr. Robin Ganzert welcomes Liz Stewart, a dedicated full-time volunteer therapy dog handler from Dublin, California. Liz shares the extraordinary journey of her therapy dog, Dayo, highlighting his unique beginnings and transformative role in providing comfort to individuals in need.

---

Dayo's Origin: From Cheetah Companion to Therapy Dog

[00:01 - 03:02]

Liz begins by recounting how Dayo entered her life. Purchased on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Dayo initially served as a companion to Pancake, a cheetah at the Wildlife Safari Park in Winston, Oregon. Both Dayo and Pancake were born on the same day, February 28th, and were inseparable from six weeks old. Their bond was profound, with Pancake acting as Dayo's support animal. Tragically, Pancake passed away just shy of their third birthday, necessitating Dayo's rehoming due to his longing for her presence.

Dr. Robin Ganzert remarks, “[04:15] Robin: And we’re saying the name Dayo. Can you share with everyone, what does Dayo mean?"
[04:15] Liz Stewart: "Dayo means joy arrives."

---

Transition to Therapy Work

[03:02 - 08:55]

After Pancake's passing, Liz wondered if Dayo would adapt to a new home. Despite initial concerns about his transition from a cheetah enclosure to a family home, Dayo settled seamlessly, displaying a calm and gentle temperament. Although Rhodesian Ridgebacks are traditionally bred to hunt lions, Dayo's demeanor contrasts sharply as he is more of a "couch potato," much to the delight of the children he interacts with.

Liz explains her motivation, “[09:31] Liz Stewart: I think because. Especially because of Dayo. When I bring him into the room and see their smiles, it just makes my day.”

---

Therapy Work: Bringing Comfort and Joy

[06:01 - 15:09]

Dayo accompanies Liz to various facilities, including George Mart Children's House and Lucille Packard Children's Hospital. At these locations, Dayo provides respite and emotional support to children undergoing palliative care, cancer treatment, and end-of-life stages. His presence offers a temporary escape and much-needed comfort to patients and their families.

One poignant moment shared by Liz involves a child named Molly, who enjoys walking with Dayo by fountains, creating joyful memories despite her circumstances. Another touching story features Charlie, a longstanding patient at the George Mart Children's House, who bonds with Dayo through gentle interactions.

At Camp Aaron, a grief-processing camp, Dayo and other therapy dogs engage with children, helping them navigate loss and emotional challenges. Liz recounts an event where a child chose to lay with Dayo all day, illustrating the profound impact these therapy dogs have.

---

Training and Certification: Preparing for Therapy Work

[15:09 - 19:56]

For listeners inspired to volunteer, Liz outlines the training process for becoming a certified therapy dog handler. The steps include:

1. Basic Obedience Classes: Completion of one and two classes to establish foundational skills.
2. Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Certification: A five to six-week course culminating in a test, similar to therapy dog evaluations.
3. Mentorship: Shadowing experienced handlers like Liz and Dayo during facility visits.

Liz emphasizes the importance of selecting dogs with the right disposition and notes that Dayo, with his innate ability to connect, exemplifies the qualities needed for successful therapy work.

---

The Rhodesian Ridgeback Breed: A Unique Choice for Therapy

[17:58 - 19:56]

Liz shares her personal connection to Rhodesian Ridgebacks, stemming from her husband's Rhodesian heritage. This breed, known for its majestic appearance and hunting background, surprises many with its suitability for therapy work. Liz counters the common misconception that Ridgebacks are too energetic for such roles by showcasing Dayo's calm and empathetic nature.

“[19:34] Robin: …you don’t associate that [peace] with the Ridgeback, you know, But I love it.”
[19:56] Liz Stewart: “…because when they tell me the age, I tell them, I started with Chloe when she was six and a half, but Dayo, I started him when he was three.”

---

Recognition and Impact: Hero Dog Awards

[19:56 - 22:45]

Dayo's exceptional work earned him recognition in the 14th Annual Hero Dog Awards by American Humane. This accolade underscores his remarkable transition from a cheetah companion to a celebrated therapy dog. Dayo's appearance on the Today Show further amplified his influence, inspiring others to recognize the profound impact therapy dogs can have.

Liz reflects on the honor, “[20:09] Liz Stewart: It's amazing. It means so much to us, and I love that it's highlighting, you know, what Dayo does and what I do.”

---

Looking Ahead: Inspiring Future Hero Dogs

[22:45 - 23:09]

As Dayo continues his mission, Liz hopes his story will inspire the next generation of therapy dogs. She envisions Dayo as a trailblazer, encouraging more individuals to undertake therapy dog training and expand the reach of animal-assisted therapy.

“[22:45] Liz Stewart: He just knows what they need. That's his superpower.”
[23:09] Robin: “And your superpower is your heart.”

---

Conclusion

Dr. Robin Ganzert and Liz Stewart conclude the episode by celebrating Dayo's achievements and the vital role therapy dogs play in enhancing the lives of those facing medical and emotional challenges. Liz's unwavering dedication and Dayo's compassionate nature embody the mission of Robin's Nest—building a more humane world through the powerful bond between humans and animals.

Listeners are encouraged to watch Dayo's Hero Dog Awards video on American Humane's YouTube channel, with a friendly reminder to have tissues on hand for the emotional journey.

Notable Quotes:

• Liz Stewart [04:15]: "Dayo means joy arrives."
• Liz Stewart [09:31]: "When I bring him into the room and see their smiles, it just makes my day."
• Liz Stewart [19:56]: "If they're a Dayo disposition, they can start at three years of age."
• Robin Ganzert [19:34]: "You don’t associate that [peace] with the Ridgeback, you know, But I love it."
• Robin Ganzert [22:45]: “What is Dayo's superpower?”
• Liz Stewart [22:45]: "He just knows what they need. That's his superpower."

---

For more inspiring stories and discussions on animal welfare, subscribe to Robin's Nest and stay tuned for upcoming episodes.

Transcript

[Robin]

Welcome to Robin's Nest. Many of us feel a deep bond with animals, from the pets we cherish at home to the endangered species in nature. Join us for lively, informative conversations where together we will build a more humane world. Today, I'm thrilled to introduce an inspiring guest, Liz Stewart and her incredible therapy dog, Dayo. Liz is a full time volunteer therapy dog handler from Dublin, California, who alongside Dayo, has touched countless lives through compassion and service. Dayo's journey is nothing short of remarkable. With his special gift for connecting with people in need, Dayo brings joy and comfort to children and families in hospitals, libraries, bereavement camps, and pediatric care centers. I can't wait for Liz to share the incredible story of her partnership with Dayo and and the lives they've changed along the way. Liz, welcome to Robin's Nest.

[Liz Stewart]

Hi. Thank you for having us. I'm happy to be here.

[Robin]

Oh, we're so thrilled to have you. And I know this is an incredible story and the journey that you've been on with Dayo and Dayo's initial journey is something that all animal lovers I think will be fascinated to hear. And look. Hi, Dayo. You hear your name, don't you? Yes, you do. You're in studio with us today. You're looking up at your mom and you got lots of stories to. Your mom's going to tell your story. Yes. I love it. Liz, you know, Dayo is a very special dog and you know that. And there's many members of many different communities who know that. But please tell us, how did Dayo get his start?

[Liz Stewart]

Well, when I got him in, I got him on Martin Luther King's birthday is when he arrived at our house. And I just immediately saw his disposition, his attentiveness and engagement. He makes such great eye contact. And he knows exactly what everyone needs that we visit.

[Robin]

Yes, yes. Well, he does. And he's looked at eye contact for you and me. When he first came in, he's like, well, is everything okay? I'm like, but we're all good. We're in the nest. It's all good. But he started out his life as a companion to a cheetah. And most people wonder, did that happen in the United States? What is happening with that? And it did. So tell us a little bit about Dayo's first start because he had a very special best friend when he started out, right?

[Liz Stewart]

Yes. So he was a companion dog for Pancake the cheetah. So they were born on the exact same day, February 28th. And they were together since they were six weeks old.

[Robin]

Wow.

[Liz Stewart]

Unfortunately, Pancake had passed away and just shy of their third birthday. And that's when he was rehomed. He had to be removed from the safari park because he kept looking for Pancake.

[Robin]

Oh.

[Liz Stewart]

So I felt as if she was kind of his support animal, too.

[Robin]

Yes.

[Liz Stewart]

She was actually the one that was always looking for Dayo if he went somewhere else. But then when she passed away, he was looking for her.

[Robin]

So I know, because we work a lot in the zoological space that dogs are great companions for cheetahs and other animals in zoos and aquariums. And people would say, well, how could that be? But if they are born and raised together, they can become best friends. And in this case, Dayo was Pancake's best friend and vice versa.

[Liz Stewart]

Yes. Yes. At the Wildlife Safari park in Winston, Oregon, is where they were. And they had seen a ridgeback cheetah pair at the San Diego Zoo. And Dayo's lead keeper saw that, and she wanted a ridgeback for Pancake.

[Robin]

Oh, how incredible. And that's how Dayo entered their life. And then, of course, when Pancake unfortunately passed, Dayo needed a new home. I know many of our listeners in Robin's Nest are going to want to make sure they understand that we're saying the name Dayo. Can you share with everyone, what does Dayo mean?

[Liz Stewart]

Yes. So they named him at the safari park Dayo, which means joy arrives.

[Robin]

And it's an African name, right?

[Liz Stewart]

Yes.

[Robin]

And I love that because of course, he was going to be the cheetah's. The cheetah's partner, and I love that. So Dayo is actually just what we're thinking. D a y o. It's wonderful. Well, Liz, when you first saw Dale and understood that there was a home, a forever loving home, needed, tell us, what did you think when you met?

[Liz Stewart]

I was shocked at his size for sure, because he's one of the biggest Ridgebacks that I ever saw.

[Robin]

I was gonna say he's massive, and I don't think you can see this certainly in our podcast studio, but he is huge. You know, he is so big, he has to go up to above your waist. Right. I mean, he's massive, but he's so calm and beautif temperament. Right?

[Liz Stewart]

He is. And I felt, am I going to be the perfect home for him because he came from living in an enclosure with the cheetah. Is he going to be happy? But he settled in nicely. And I tell everyone that, you know, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, they were bred to hunt lions, but he is a couch potato. So the kids that we visit laugh.

[Robin]

I bet they do. I bet they do. My goodness. But he is massive and he's beautiful. And of course, we see his ridge, which they're famous for, the way the hairs stands up on their back. The Rhodesian ridgeback is a majestic, majestic breed of dog. And I love the fact that he had such an interesting life and then came to you at three years old. Is that right? So today, Ridgeback, this Rhodesian ridgeback, this majestic creature has another job. And please tell us a little bit about what Dayo does today.

[Liz Stewart]

Well, we go to a number of facilities, and in particular, we spent a lot of time at George Mart Children's House. So it's a palliative care facility. And so we have respite care, end of life, and palliative care as transitional care. And the families and the siblings that come there that meet him, they love to spend time with him. If their sibling is there for end of life or cancer, we have a cancer respite program. So he just really does comfort and joy to those kids. And it kind of takes them, their minds off of something, you know, that if they're having a bad day, like at Lucille Packard Children's Hospital, we visit the cancer floor. And if they had a treatment that morning and they get to spend time with Dayo that afternoon, and they really look forward to it and love it, just sitting there petting him and asking all kinds of questions about, you know, Dayo's background. When I show them his card, because I have a card with him and pancake on it, and they're like, oh, a cheetah. Is that real?

[Robin]

His best friend was a cheetah. Seriously. And it really is beautiful. So you talk about facilities. So basically you're visiting with Dayo hospitals and end of life care facilities. And you're bringing four legs and a wagging tail and those powerful eyes looking at me right now, and it's beautiful day. Oh, you're just looking like you're looking into my soul. It's really powerful. So you, you bring this incredible creature to these people who are really in need.

[Liz Stewart]

Yes. We also visit Kaiser the cancer floor as well. So they're getting their infusions and then Dayo gets to. I'll ask them, are you wanting a visit? Do you need a visit from Dayo? And. And usually I can tell right away when I see it in their eyes, when they make eye contact with this guy.

[Robin]

How did you know that you wanted to do this?

[Liz Stewart]

Well, I started in 2008 with my first Ridgeback and a friend of mine that was already in the program, she said angel would be perfect. And she was another Ridgeback like Dayo. And I started her and then I carried on and I had angel, then Chloe and then Dayo. And I think Dayo has that special touch. He really does. He just will go up to them and just nuzzle in or just lay his head on their la. And on Friday at Lucille Packard, he nuzzled his nose under the, the kid's leg because he knew that he couldn't kiss because they're, you know, their immune system is down, compromised. And so he just nuzzled and let him pet him and just stayed there until the child was ready to go back to their room.

[Robin]

Oh, my goodness. Well, let's just back up and say that now for almost, almost two decades you've been visiting these facilities, seeing very, very troubling scenes. Right. And with people who are in such need. And you made a personal decision to provide therapy dogs.

[Liz Stewart]

Yes, I. I love it. I call it my, my full time job.

[Robin]

Yes.

[Liz Stewart]

I'm a volunteer. I. I'm a full time volunteer.

[Robin]

Yes.

[Liz Stewart]

And I love it.

[Robin]

And you love it. Why? Tell me why?

[Liz Stewart]

I think because. Especially because of Dayo.

[Robin]

Yes.

[Liz Stewart]

When I bring him into the room and see their smiles, it just, it makes my day. And sometimes I get that, you know, those teary eyed, you know, I get a little misty eyed when one of the kids that I know that is in the package that everyone will see at the gala, he just, he rests her, his muzzle on her chest, and she just pets him and it just makes her day. And every time she comes to the house, she asks if Dayo is coming to see her.

[Robin]

Oh my goodness. Oh, my goodness. Well, share with me a couple of stories about the people that you and Dale have touched as his being a certified therapy dog.

[Liz Stewart]

Well, one in particular that I love is her name was Molly.

[Robin]

Molly.

[Liz Stewart]

And she used to come to the house and visit us all the. And we would. Our thing is to walk along Hummingbird Hill, go by the fountains that they have on the campus and, or on the grounds, I should say. And she would kick her feet underneath the water in the fountain and Dayo would just sit next to her as she splashed the water. And they love to look at him when he's walking alongside. I think when they hear the clicking of his nails, it makes them laugh. And so she's one of them. And then Charlie was a long time person that would come to a Longtime patient that came to the house and.

[Robin]

And the house again is the hospital.

[Liz Stewart]

The George Mart children's house.

[Robin]

Yes.

[Liz Stewart]

And Charlie pets them with his feet, and he just loves that. Dayo will just sit there and let him pet him with his feet.

[Robin]

Oh, my goodness.

[Liz Stewart]

And then the siblings, they will come for we have pumpkin day and there's a family picnic day. And the siblings are this long extended George Mart family where they continue to come to the house even after their siblings have passed away.

[Robin]

Oh, my goodness.

[Liz Stewart]

And they'll come look for Dayo when they come to these events because they got to spend time with him, and it meant a lot to them that he brought joy to them as they were going through a tough time losing their sister or their brother.

[Robin]

So you have to be. Again, back to you for a minute. You have to be very special yourself. Seeing these children and knowing that many of them are at their end of life care stage, that's a lot to process. It's a lot of emotions. I know those of you that in Robin's Nest today have joined us. I encourage you to look at Dayo's Hero Dog Awards video. It's stunning. But I encourage you also to have a box of tissues, not just one with you when you. When you watch. How do you hold up?

[Liz Stewart]

It can be tough some days because I consider George Mark in my family.

[Robin]

Yes.

[Liz Stewart]

And I think that Dayo just make. He knows what they need in that connection. And I feel like we are body language experts where we know what they need and I know what to ask when they're meeting Dayo. And I feel like my job, keeping them distracted and focused on something that's bringing them joy, that kind of keeps me going to.

[Robin]

You're a giver of gifts. Right. And you give the gifts of hope and love. And I also know that you bring them and Dayo brings them unconditional love.

[Liz Stewart]

He does.

[Robin]

And look, he's, like, looking at us right now. He's like, I heard my name.

[Liz Stewart]

And when. When those kids come and they say Dayo and they run to him, you could just see him excited to see them, too. And he remembers. He remembers all of them.

[Robin]

How about Camp Aaron? Because I know that that's a really important part of your work. It's processing, you know, grief and loss and offering emotional support. Tell us a little bit about Camp Erin.

[Liz Stewart]

That is a very special place. Every year, they invite all of our dogs to come from Valley Humane Society comfort dogs. And I believe we have 10 dogs at least for that time frame. And they have it designed where the camp, they have other activities. And the kids always look forward to the pet therapy dogs. And they'll come running to the area because we're all sitting under this tree area and grass with our blankets out. And they love to come pet the dogs. And one time there was a dog that we had that had the name of their. Their grandfather that had passed away.

[Robin]

Oh, my.

[Liz Stewart]

And that child spent the entire time with that dog. And you'll find that there'll be one kid that will just latch on, that will just want that dog. And one child did lay with Dayo on his blanket, just lay down and just petting, petting, and never left. And usually they'll go all the dogs to collect their cards because we hand out their little trading cards. And she just wanted to lay with Dayo. She's like, I just love Dayo. He just knows exactly what I need. And I needed this today.

[Robin]

Oh, that's so beautiful. So not only the. The house that you visit, which is part of the hospital system, the camp you visit, you bring a lot, a lot of joy. I want to back up and use this as an educational time for our listeners of whom would love to do what you're doing and to give back to their local community and to support their local hospital or families in need with a comfort dog. Can you describe what training you and Dayo have had to be able to provide this volunteer service?

[Liz Stewart]

Oh, yes. A lot of people ask me that.

[Robin]

It's very important.

[Liz Stewart]

And that would be so awesome to have more. More DAOs, more DEO's out there.

[Robin]

Yes.

[Liz Stewart]

I always tell them that as perfect as they do basic obedience one and two classes, and then also a canine good citizen. So I usually take them through a canine good citizen class, and it's usually a five or six weeks. And then after there's a test, and I tell everyone that those tests that they have to go through in order to pass cgc, the Canine Good Citizens, is similar to the pet therapy exam.

[Robin]

Yes, yes, yes.

[Liz Stewart]

So I tell them if you can pass that, then that calms you, because usually it's you as the handler that's nervous and not the dog.

[Robin]

I love that. I love that. And then. So once they pass that they can go to the next step.

[Liz Stewart]

Yes. And then usually they're mentored with whatever organization they decide to go through. And with ours, we do two mentor visits where we. They will shadow Dayo and I at a facility with or without their dog.

[Robin]

And the name of your organization?

[Liz Stewart]

Ours is Valley Humane Society in Pleasanton.

[Robin]

Wonderful. Want to give a big shout out to everyone there, too, and their great work. They do.

[Liz Stewart]

Yes. Shoshana Reed is our lead contact. And so if anyone says, oh, I want Dayo to come to my school if I'm visiting at Kaiser.

[Robin]

Yes.

[Liz Stewart]

One of the patients there said, oh, my gosh, I want Dayo to come to my school.

[Robin]

Right. And then.

[Liz Stewart]

And they contact Shoshana Reed and she makes that happen, and she makes it happen.

[Robin]

I think that's outstanding. So the good thing is, again, a couple of the obedience training courses, the good citizen course, and then onto a therapy dog certified program based on where you're based and the one in your local community. So this is really wonderful because I'm sure that when people have heard your stories, they are inspired to volunteer themselves and they have that special dog in their life. You've aligned yourself with the very special breed as well. So why did you fall in love with Rhodesian Ridgebacks? Which, by the way, you look at them and think, oh, my gosh, that's a big dog. Right. So tell us, why Rhodesian Ridgebacks for you?

[Liz Stewart]

Well, my husband is from Rhodesia and his grandfather raised Ridgebacks.

[Robin]

Oh, my goodness. This is a multi generational family commitment.

[Liz Stewart]

So once we got the big yard and he's like, okay, we need Ridgebacks. And then now I think I've had seven Ridgebacks and I have five now, two have passed on that have been therapy dogs, but I have three current pet therapy dogs. So Dayo is my specialty for, you know, Lucille Packard and Kaiser.

[Robin]

Yes.

[Liz Stewart]

And then at George Mark Children's house, I take Dayo, Lucy and Cecil. So they have all their different days. So I go there three times a week.

[Robin]

Oh, my goodness, how incredible. Well, you're a super volunteer and a superhero. Super humane hero is what you are. So this. I love the fact that you're. Your husband's grandfather bred these dogs way back in the day and had them. And now you're carrying on this tradition. But even better than that, you were actually serving as an ambassador for this breed.

[Liz Stewart]

Oh, yes.

[Robin]

Because you don't see too many Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

[Liz Stewart]

Right. Everyone asked me, he's like, oh, my gosh, I didn't think Ridgebacks could do this. And I told them I didn't know either until I started with angel, because usually they're golden. A lot of golden retrievers.

[Robin]

Yes. And probably golden doodles. Yes, yes. But to see Dale and see him in action, there's a peace in him. And sometimes you. You don't associate that with the Ridgeback, you know, But I love it. I love that you're bringing another dimension to this beautiful, majestic breed. It's fantastic.

[Liz Stewart]

Thank you. Yes. Everyone said, I have a Ridgeback. They couldn't do this or they'll say, my dog has got so much energy, they can never do it. But I tell them it's not too late, because when they tell me the age, I tell them, I started with Chloe when she was six and a half, but Dayo, I started him when he was three. So if they're a Dayo disposition, they can start at three years of age.

[Robin]

I think that's amazing. What does it mean to you and to Dayo to be recognized as our winning therapy dog in the 14th annual Hero Dog Awards?

[Liz Stewart]

It's amazing. It means so much to us, and I love that it's highlighting, you know, what Dayo does and what I do. I always put everything on Dayo. I never introduced myself. They're like, oh, by the way, what is your name? But it's so amazing just to see him in action. But not everyone gets to see that. And so by him being honored by American Humane, everyone else gets to see how amazing Dayo is.

[Robin]

Yes, yes. And he visited at the Today Show. He's been quite famous, right? Quite the following.

[Liz Stewart]

Yes. We were so excited to go to the Today show. And when I tell people when we're visiting at Lucille Packard, like, he was. He's a celebrity. He was on the Today show, and I tell him about American Humane, and immediately they'll look up American Humane and Hero Dog Awards so they can see what this is all about.

[Robin]

And he's in our 14th annual award show. And what a great story that he has. And our most unusual story, I would say, in 14 years, particularly given his incredible first three years of his life in a completely different capacity. And now what he's doing, too, you know, being recognized as a hero, such as this is wonderful for the whole animal assisted therapy space, isn't it?

[Liz Stewart]

Yes. I feel it's amazing when they find out that. And then me thinking back that he was a cheetah companion dog to now therapy dog, that's pretty special that he made that transition.

[Robin]

It is very special. So when you think about Dayo's next steps after his head gets big, walking down the red carpet as a Hero Dog finalist and winner of the therapy dog category, what's he going to do next?

[Liz Stewart]

Oh, my goodness. What are you going to do next? I do know that Lucille Packard and George Mart House are just so close to our hearts that we'll always be there visiting the kids. And then hopefully, American Humane will have more stuff for you to do. Dayo, to highlight, you know, other wonderful dogs that are going to be trail. You know, he's a trailblazer. Well, there's others that are going to follow.

[Robin]

That's exactly right. He can serve to inspire the next generation of hero dogs, which is very important as well. And also the fact that he's an ambassador for her breed, which is a wonderful, wonderful story to tell. You know, I ask every hero dog that visited Robin's Nest, what is their superpower? What is Dayo's superpower?

[Liz Stewart]

Oh, my goodness. I know he's an extreme cuddler, is his superpower, but he's a body language expert. He does know how to read the people that he's visiting, and he knows whether or not they need a cuddle, a kiss, or for them just to, you know, lay on his lap or get a paw shake. You know, he just. He just knows what they need. That's his superpower.

[Robin]

And what is yours?

[Liz Stewart]

Mine is definitely understanding my dogs and especially Dayo. I can read his body language and know what. What's needed next with the patients.

[Robin]

Yes.

[Liz Stewart]

And then just my. My heart.

[Robin]

Yes.

[Liz Stewart]

I. Because a lot of people that I ask, oh, would you guys like to come as pet therapy handlers to George, Mark, and some say, thank you so much. I'm honored that you asked, but I wouldn't be able to do it because I don't think I could handle what you handle every day.

[Robin]

Yes.

[Liz Stewart]

It just really tugs at the heartstrings. And they say, you know, my hat's off to you, Liz. You just do such amazing work. I don't know how you and Dave do it.

[Robin]

I love that your superpower is your heart. Everyone would agree. Everyone who knows you would agree. And Dayo superpowers, the ability to innately know what someone else needs and someone especially in need. It's wonderful.

[Liz Stewart]

Oh, thank you.

[Robin]

Well, you represent the best of the best of our hero dogs. We're so proud to know you, and we thank you for sharing your impactful story with all of us in Robin's Nest.

[Liz Stewart]

First of all, thank you so much for having me. This is so fun. And I love talking about Dayo and, you know, American Humane hero dog. I mean, this is such an amazing weekend or week.

[Robin]

Yes. Yes. What's so nice, too, is that everyone listening to this episode of Robin's Nest or tuning in will actually be able to go to American Humane's YouTube channel and look up Dao's incredible video. And again, I warn everyone, box of tissues required. Thank you for being a superhero. Thank you for being a hero on both ends of the leash. We're so proud to know you. And thank you for joining us today in Robin's Nest.

[Liz Stewart]

Oh, thank you so much, Robin.

[Robin]

Thank you for tuning in to Robin's Nest. We want to hear what you think. Please make sure to review the podcast on your podcast platform. Watch for upcoming episodes that will include new and exciting discussions. If you love animals, you'll love this season of Robin's Nest.