Graham the Plott Hound visits with residents at Newhaven Court at Clearview assisted living center during a recent morning exercise class. Graham is a Bridge to Home Animal Rescue dog who was adopted by the community and lives at the complex full time.

Graham once paid resident Madeline Golec an unexpected visit to her room.

Although the dog was full of smiles, her cat gave him a hiss or two and hid under her bed, she said.

For Newhaven Court at Clearview residents, Graham brings back memories of former furry friends and acts as a substitute pet.

“See how everyone is smiling? I think it's a very good thing to have a pet because we all remember when we had pets,” Golec said as she looked around the room at residents who tossed balls and toys to the overjoyed dog. “He's really a cutie.”

Graham, a Plott Hound and beagle mix who is about a year old, has made his home at the assisted living facility, located 100 Newhaven Lane, as the community dog for about a year as part of its Community Pet program.

The dark chocolate brown dog with a coat flecked with orange and gold stripes bounded across the room last week as residents gave him treats, while others tossed colorful toys to him in a game.

Graham came to the facility as a 10-week-old puppy after Kathy Roudybush, the facility's lifestyles director, adopted him from Bridge to Home Animal Rescue, a nonprofit, foster-based, rescue group dedicated to helping unwanted, abandoned and abused dogs, located in Eighty Four.

“The residents love the fact that we rescued him,” Roudybush said. “He was in a bad situation in West Virginia. He was living outside and wasn't being taken care of.”Graham's blue bow tie is reminiscent of the accessory he wore as a puppy, she said.Another assisted-living community had a Plott Hound, which worked well for them, she said.Since his stay, Graham as won the hearts of everyone he greets, including residents, employees, mailmen and delivery drivers, as he bounds down hallways and uses the elevator, she said.Part of Graham's training calls for him to sit, stay and follow rules. He sits in during activities, takes naps and goes for walks and trips outside.“He's still a puppy,” Roudybush said about Graham's playful and rambunctious to mellow moments.Graham has a quiet disposition and is not overly rambunctious, Roudybush said.A plus is that Graham is not large, but has enough stature to reach residents when they sit or those who use wheelchairs, she said.

Wheelchairs and walkers have never bothered him, she said.Roudybush plans to take Graham for good citizen training, which is one requirement for him to stay at the facility, she said. The facility has had a community pet in the past.Graham benefits residents who can no longer care for pets and those who have memory issues, Roudybush said.“It makes their day; their faces just brighten up,” she said. “They just lighten up whenever they see him.”Another place residents can find Graham is at Bible study.“He laid across my feet the whole time,” said resident Bertie Kroh. “It was warm.”Kroh grew up on a farm filled with cats and dogs, she said.“He's a good dog,” she said. “I think he makes the people more awake, more alert.”

Graham, the Newhaven Court at Clearview assisted living center community dog, sits for a treat. He wears a blue bow tie reminiscent of something he wore as a puppy.

Graham plays tug-of-war with life stages associate Kim Novak during morning exercises at Newhaven Court at Clearview assisted living center.

Graham the Newhaven Court at Clearview assisted living center community dog eats a treat out of Katherine Scherder's hand after shaking hands.

Newhaven Court at Clearview assisted living center community dog Graham visits with seniors during a morning exercise class at the facility. Graham is a Bridge to Home Animal Rescue dog who was adopted by the community and lives at the complex full time.