Lucky’s Healing Power of Touch

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — He’s 90lbs, gray, and the breed you wouldn’t expect to have so much power. But it’s the healing power of touch that makes Lucky the Therapy Dog so special to all those with whom he comes in contact. You could say Deputy Lewis Marshall has a little “luck” following him everywhere he goes… as in “Lucky” his four-legged partner. The two spend their workdays together visiting Richland County schools, hospitals and assisted living homes. But don’t be fooled… Lucky is not the typical police dog. He’s a therapy dog. Lucky gets special access because his fur does not shed as much as the typical dog breed and Marshall gives Lucky baths to keep him smelling good. The 90 pound gray, standard poodle is called a ray of light to those who feel down and out. In a typical 8 hour workday, the two will travel to multiple locations and see dozens of people- who all know Lucky by name. “Sometimes I feel like I’m just a driver for Lucky- like he’s actually my handler,” Marshall says laughing. “They certainly love on him.” A Richland County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson says the agency’s Therapy Dog Program is another effective tool that not only gives back to the elderly, but also helps those facing illness or adversity.