08/27/2026
The hardest part of this work is saying goodbye to one of our beloved therapy dogs. Recently, we had to say goodbye to Berte, and this loss has been especially difficult.
Berte was a C.A.T. therapy dog since 2015 and part of an elite group of canine volunteers who dedicated more than 10 years of service to our community. He and his mom/handler, Karen, were a beautiful team. In many ways, Berte was just like her: kind, loving, gentle, warm, and sweet as can be.
As a Cavalier King Charles, his big baby eyes and soft, silky fur drew people in. But it was his personality that made them fall in love. He never met a stranger and always made a new best friend everywhere he went.
Over the course of his life, Berte touched thousands of people through pet therapy visits. He lifted the spirits of seniors at Independence Hall, pediatric patients at Broward Health Medical, students in local schools, hospice, and many others.
Following the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018, Karen and Berte were on campus regularly providing comfort and support to students and staff. During an incredibly emotional time, Berte's calm presence offered moments of peace when it was needed most.
One of Berte's favorite places to visit was Holy Cross Hospital, especially the cancer infusion center. For years, he faithfully visited patients receiving treatment, easing anxiety and bringing smiles on some of their hardest days.
That was Berte's gift.
He had a remarkable way of making people feel loved and a little less alone. He was more than a therapy dog. He was a loyal friend, a gentle soul, and a source of comfort to everyone lucky enough to know him.
His legacy lives on in the lives he touched, in the volunteers and staff who knew him, and in his canine sister, Eliza Doolittle, who followed in his pawprints and became a therapy dog herself.
Run free, sweet boy. Thank you for more than a decade of love, comfort, and service. And thank you to Karen for sharing your boy with the world. He will always be part of the C.A.T. family and forever in our hearts. Rest in peace, Berte. 💜🌈🐾🪽
