Isabelle, The Therapy Dog
Since 2012, a Golden Retriever named Isabelle has made it her life’s work to spread joy wherever she goes. Whether she’s comforting patients in hospitals, visiting schools, or brightening days at assisted living homes, Isabelle has a gift for making people feel seen and loved. And when she’s not out spreading cheer, she’s just as happy snuggling up with her family or charming strangers during her walks.
- Photo provided by Dan Logan
But recently, Isabelle, who has spent her life giving, was on the receiving end of something incredibly special.
The Bandana Begins
It all goes back to the day she came home as a puppy. Isabelle’s dad, Dan Logan, took her on a shopping trip to pick out the essentials: toys, treats, food and unexpectedly, a pink bandana. It caught their eye in the store. Once it was washed and ready, Dan showed it to her again.
- Photo provided by Dan Logan
“She saw it, her ears perked up, and she ran over to have it put on,” Dan recalled. “From that moment on, it became her thing.”
Isabelle didn’t just like the bandana, she loved it. So Dan kept them coming. Holiday-themed, monogrammed, even ones sent from abroad. Each morning, Isabelle would come to him, gently lowering her head, waiting for the day’s new bandana with joyful anticipation.
Transformation: From Bandanas to a Treasured Memento
Over the years, the collection grew, more than 500 bandanas in total, each one a small but meaningful part of her story. That’s when Dan’s cousin had an idea: to turn Isabelle’s beloved bandanas into a quilt that could be treasured forever.
“She wanted to create something I could always have to remember Isabelle,” Dan said.
Over six weeks, she cut and sewed 288 squares, each one a piece of Isabelle’s journey. When she brought the finished quilt over, Dan felt overwhelmed.
- Photo provided by Dan Logan
“I couldn’t speak,” he said. “I just filled up with happy tears.”
Isabelle loved it too. She curled up on it, wore it on her head, and soaked in the love stitched into every square.
- Photo provided by Dan Logan
For Dan, it was the perfect tribute to a dog who’s anything but ordinary. Isabelle has a rare gift for connecting with others, from winning over wary cats to gently comforting grieving strangers. Now, every square on that quilt is a reminder of the countless moments she’s made better, the lives she’s touched, and the deep bond they share.
- Photo provided by Dan Logan
“Each morning, she looks at me with that sparkle in her eye and the slow wag of her tail,” Dan said. “I don’t know what I did to deserve her, but I’ve been so lucky to love her.”
