Finley Lewis is the youngest Naval Health Clinic (NHC) Corpus Christi team member sporting lieutenant bars -- a notable fact since most Navy lieutenants are already in their mid to late 20s. And although their hair isn't generally gray, remarkably, Finley's is completely silver!

So, just how young is Finley? Hint, he was born in March 2012.

But Finley's birthday is not what really sets him apart from the other staff.

Honorary Lt. Finley Lewis is, in fact, an expertly trained silver Labrador retriever skilled at enhancing the quality of life, education and morale of patients, as well as NHC Corpus Christi staff.

As the official NHC Corpus Christi facility dog, Finley reports to work each weekday, except Tuesdays and Thursdays when he enjoys special liberty. His purposeful gait while patrolling the facility's hallways demonstrates his pride in the job, as well as his Navy Working Uniform (NWU) vest complete with lieutenant bars, command ID badge and call sign, "Happy Maker".

Finley's handler, Pamela Lewis, explained that he was originally the family dog.

"While stationed in Washington state, we decided on a Labrador retriever and the breeder let us have pick of the litter," said Lewis. "I was kneeling down looking at all of the 6-week-old puppies and all of a sudden he just pushes past all of them, gets right in front of me and throws himself on his back, paws in the air, and my husband looks over and says, 'Well, hello Finley!' So he picked me and he came home with us."

And with that surprise beginning, Finley joined the Lewis household. He enjoyed life as a pet, and the Lewis family looked after all of his puppy and obedience training, as well as the completion of the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Program that earned him the prestige as a well-mannered dog.

In the summer of 2014, however, circumstances presented Finley with a new purpose.

In August, Lewis and her husband, a flight instructor, transferred to Training Squadron 35 (VT-35) at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi (NASCC).

"Shortly after arriving here, Finley and I underwent six months service dog training together because of a disability I had previously learned that I had," said Lewis.

Service dogs are individually trained to perform specific tasks relative to varying disabilities.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), an individual with a disability is entitled to a service dog to help them live their lives normally. The ADA protects disabled individuals by allowing them to bring their service dog with them to most places that the public is permitted, including restaurants, hotels, housing complexes, and even during air travel.

Lewis explained that she and Finley trained at In Dog We Trust, an organization in San Antonio rescuing trainable dogs for the disabled, wounded warriors (WW), and other individuals.

She underscored the importance for the handler and dog to train as a team in order to bond with each other and build trust, as well as practice commands uniquely structured for each particular disability. For example, service dogs paired with diabetics or individuals with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) learn completely different instructions.

Service dog training was a "snap" for Finely. He was a perfect student, and Lewis said that he was eager to begin his new role.

But after pairing up with Lewis as her service dog for nearly a year and a half, Finley's life took another unexpected turn.

Lewis said that she and Finley suddenly landed a brand new job as a result of a seemingly insignificant conversation she had one day with NHC Corpus Christi's Dr. J. Sandra Leonard.

"I was in Medical Home Port chatting with Dr. Leonard about Finley and she suggested visiting the commanding officer to make a pitch for having a facility dog, and to demonstrate what a well-trained service dog could do," said Lewis.

"I thought that's all it would be; that he would say, 'Hey, this is a well-trained service dog. Wouldn't it be great to have one at the clinic?' They were very open to the idea and then suddenly Capt. Valdes said, 'Welcome to the team!' After we left his office I glanced toward Dr. Leonard thinking like, 'What just happened?!' I had no idea that Finley and I were interviewing for a job."

Facility dogs may be used in educational settings, physical therapy, and behavioral health to provide assistance with rehabilitation, emotional support, and suicide prevention.

In Finley's case, his superb manners are a plus for getting people to feel at ease no matter which area he visits.

"What's really neat is that when you go into a place like the pharmacy where people have been waiting and some are frustrated and annoyed, and in walks Finley and all of a sudden everyone lights up," said Lewis. "I've had patients tell me that they prefer to pick up their meds on the days that Finley works just so that they can see him. When they see Finley they get off their phones and all of a sudden they are not so annoyed. Or a lot of times after they have petted Finley they start telling me about the dog they used to have and then they'll start talking to each other. So by the time I leave, strangers that weren't even looking at each other are now interacting with each other."

Besides being an ideal handler, Lewis takes pride in her self-appointed role as a service dog ambassador. While she and Finley make their clinic rounds, every chance she gets she promotes the benefits of owning a service dog, and how to begin the process for obtaining one.

"I want to get as many service dogs for our military veterans as I can; and our military families for that matter. We've got a lot of wives and kids, as well as our wounded warriors who need service dogs, and they're just so helpful," said Lewis. "Finley is my little superhero in so many ways, and I see what he does every day, not just for me, but for all the people here. I can't thank him enough."

Lewis sais that six wounded warriors and military families at NHC Corpus Christi have already applied for a service dog as the result of a direct encounter with Finley.

"Doing this has healed me more than therapy. You know, trying to get out and help, and being a military wife for over 18 years has been an amazing experience. But what you guys did being in the military, if this can help at all - what I do - then this is my 'thank you.'"

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