By Cindy Adams

Polly is popular. She is the first to receive party invitations, the focus of many conversations and the most requested visitor to enCircle’s group homes. It’s no wonder. She brings nothing but gentle care and unconditional love. And who doesn’t want that?

One of her biggest fans is Randy at the Broad Street Group Home in Salem. He knows she’s allergic to chicken, needs a lot of water and he prepares her dinner accordingly. He also ensures that she minds her manners. “Sit, Polly,” he says firmly as he dangles a treat.

Randy has a soft spot for Polly.

"They share a similar history," explained Stormie Shelton, Direct Support Professional at enCircle and Polly’s owner. "Polly was not well cared for in her previous home. Randy told me he has been in other places where people didn’t take care of him either. I guess he can relate."

Polly is a therapy-certified Australian Blue Heeler but, more importantly, Randy describes her as his friend.

Polly was the one who paved the way for a closer relationship between Randy and Stormie. At first, Randy wasn’t so sure about Stormie, who speaks very directly. His hesitancy was likely based on experiences with others in his past. But once they started chatting about animals, particularly Stormie’s horses and dogs, he warmed up to her. Randy grew up with dogs and he started asking to see Polly – all the time, every chance he could get. One time, he even used the TV remote as if it were a telephone and called Polly, mainly to tattle on Stormie for waking him up too early.

Polly is a welcome and beloved guest. She instinctively knows what people need. If they can’t reach her, she will lift her paws to them. If they are afraid of her, she faces the other way so they can approach her on their terms.

She is trained to walk alongside wheelchairs, not in front of them, so her companionship tends to encourage Randy, and other group home residents, to get a little extra exercise. When Polly is in the house, people are out of their rooms, poor behaviors dissipate, and a sense of calm prevails.

"She enjoys being around people with disabilities," Stormie said. "And she makes a difference in their lives."

Most likely, it’s mutual.