My name is Benji and on February 14, I had a grrrrreat time visiting Seniors at the StoneBridge Retirement Center in Sulphur.

They think I'm cute and cuddly, especially because I'm a rescued mutt who now is living the Life of Rover with my adopted mom, Anne Drake.

My BFF, Terri Martel, organizes these grrrrrreat nursing home visits. She brought Mardi Gras beads and Valentines to hand out and treats for me and the other dogs.

No bones about it, I enjoy making new friends at nursing homes in Lake Charles and Sulphur, even though we have to wear stupid costumes sometimes.

I also like to visit the kids at the Juvenile Detention Center, part of Beth Zilbert's "New Leash on Life" program.

We get lots of treats there and once I got so excited I had an accident on the floor while Miss Beth was giving a speech. My mom turned red. It was funny. Hey, poop happens. It's not like I was the only one.

Anyway, a big round of ap"paws" to the humans in the Humane Society for sponsoring these programs!