TODAY'S RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS; JAKE, VETS HAVE DOGGONE GOOD TIME

Everything is jake with Jake. He fetches smiles wherever he goes.

The 4-year-old golden retriever and his owner, Phyllis Spence of Cape Girardeau, visit the Missouri Veterans Home three times a week.

Veterans smile and reach out to pet the 100-pound dog when he comes down the halls or stops in their rooms to visit.

Spence brings along a bag of Charlee Bear dog treats. She hands out the treats to patients so they can feed Jake.

Some of the home's residents provide their own treats -- cookies and candy -- for Jake.

The dog's visits are on the activities schedule distributed to the home's residents. They know when he is coming.

"He's everybody's buddy here," said Spence.

Jake even has his own name tag to which is attached a Veterans Home pin showing he has volunteered 100 hours.

"He is a real touch hog and he loves people," Spence said.

Jake knows his way around the home. Unleashed, he walks along, stopping at the rooms of the veterans they regularly visit.

The home has three wings. Spence and Jake visit a different wing each time.

Spence's 13-year-old daughter, Sarah, comes along after school on Wednesday afternoons when they visit Alzheimer patients.

Many veterans have few visitors. They are starving for company, said Spence, who began visiting the home with Jake last September.

Spence and Jake are part of the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri's Pet Pals program. As part of that program, they visit with patients in local hospitals and nursing homes.

But the visits to the Veterans Home are something they do on their own, apart from the Pet Pals program.

Jake has become a friend for many of the veterans, who treat him like he was their own dog.

The home's residents perk up when they see Jake.

"I wish I had him," said World War II Army veteran Burl King.

During Monday's visit, Jake hopped up on King's bed, licked the veteran's nose and gobbled up some Vanilla Wafers King had saved for him.

Jim McClard, a Marine Corps veteran of World War II, pets the tail-wagging Jake.

"He is my buddy," said McClard, as Jake ate candy out of his hand. "He is just a nice, friendly dog. Seems like he likes everybody."

Spence said the home's housekeeping department likes Jake too. Jake will eat up any crumbs he finds on the floor.

Spence said she enjoys watching the veterans visit with Jake.

"It is very rewarding," said Spence. "It just makes you feel good deep down inside."