CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- It's not every day the senior citizens who live at Bradley Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center get to throw a party for a 10-year-old.
Thursday was one of those days.
It was Bradley's birthday. Not the county. The dog.
"The residents love to feed him. We have to watch that," said registered nurse Susan Thurman.
She recalled Bradley's story as the cakes -- one for humans and one for dogs plus cupcakes for dogs -- were being set up on tables with balloons and such.
Ten years ago, a puppy with a big wound on its back, about 1 year old and believed to be a mix of Dalmatian and English bulldog, showed up at the nursing home. The staff took him to a veterinarian and the puppy recovered.
The home advertised for an owner but none showed up. "Bradley" was here to stay.
Now Bradley ambles the hallways each day, stepping in to visit residents where he knows he's welcome. He sits quietly with them; he stands for some petting. Sometimes he wanders outside into an enclosed courtyard to share the shade with his human friends.
"He will not go in a room unless he has permission," Ms. Thurman said. "There are some residents he knows he can go in their rooms. If it's someone new, he waits for an invitation. Honest to goodness, he knows when someone is sick. He will wait at the door to see if it's OK."
Bradley goes home to Ms. Thurman's house at night.
Each year, the home's staff bring their own dogs to Bradley's party. The guests Thursday ranged from little bitty to really big. Except for a rambunctious puppy or two, Bradley's guests are very dignified, milling around the room from wheelchair to wheelchair.
They could be forgiven for sniffing the air as the doggie cakes (peanut butter is an ingredient) waft through the air.
"It's a special recipe," said Angela Sims. "There's always a lot of guests."
Both people and canine.