By Mike Bush

St. Louis (KSDK) - We saw some more gold medal performances again at the Olympics Thursday night and once again we're honoring some of our community gold medalists who are making a difference.

Thursday's winner has four legs.

The halls of Relais Bonne Eau, a hospice in southern Illinois, are made to feel like home for the patients.

"What other better way to make a place feel like home than to have a dog," said volunteer Carol Mestemacher.

But Magnum is more than just a household pet. He's a trained service dog who spends every day visiting families and patients dealing with end of life care.

"He is a big personality, he's full of life, and what he does is bring joy and comfort to people," said Mestemacher.

Whether he's playing a game of hallway fetch or just lending a friendly, floppy ear, Magnum never fails to fill the room with smiles and laughter. And for this dog, that's a treat like no other.

"It is quite an honor and a privilege for us to go in and meet with people at this very special and emotional time in their lives," said Mestemacher.

 

KSDK