When you first see Merlin, the purple-pawed pup with a fluffy mullet and the warmest eyes you’ve ever met, you might think he’s just a whimsical dog out for a walk. But Merlin is much more than that. He’s a certified therapy dog, an emotional healer and a beacon of kindness in the Ann Arbor community.
Together with his humans, Sheri and Scott Chisholm, Merlin volunteers weekly at local hospitals comforting patients, staff and families alike. The trio has become a regular source of smiles, hope and connection — especially during life’s most difficult moments.
A magical beginning
Photo courtesy of Sheri Chisholm.
Sheri and Scott Chisholm, who live in Whitmore Lake, adopted Merlin when he was just 8 weeks old. The moment they saw his photo on Facebook, they knew: “That’s our boy.”
From the start, Merlin was destined for more than just cuddles at home.
“We knew we wanted him to be a therapy dog from the beginning,” Sheri said. “We trained him from a puppy to be quiet and calm and took him everywhere to socialize him.”
Their inspiration came from personal experience — both had family members who were visited by therapy dogs during end-of-life hospital stays, and the impact was unforgettable.
“It made the biggest difference during a really difficult time,” Scott recalled. “We wanted to pass that along to others.”
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Merlin’s Mission: healing through Connection
Since becoming certified with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs in December 2021, Merlin and his humans have volunteered extensively, visiting patients at Michigan Medicine and Trinity Health Hospital in Ypsilanti. Their focus? Adult patients and ER visits — areas that often receive less attention than pediatric units.
“Staff need love too,” Scott pointed out. “We usually go in the evening after work, so we see night-shift staff who rarely get therapy dog visits. We hear ‘you made my day!’ at least once every time.”
They also volunteer at one-time events like Finals Week relaxation stations at the University of Michigan, school visits and even nursing homes. This is a fully volunteer-based mission — driven by community spirit and personal passion.
“We’ve always done volunteer work,” Sheri shared. “This was a natural evolution of that. After COVID, we wanted to spread kindness. It’s contagious.”
Heartwarming encounters
One particularly memorable story involves a young girl in the ER who had been there for hours. Merlin, with his fluffy purple paws and calm demeanor, sat beside her and lifted her spirits instantly.
“She loved his paws—purple was her favorite color,” Sheri said. “She told us he was her best friend and gave him a friendship bracelet. We put it on his paw, and he proudly wore it for the rest of the visit.”
Another touching connection involved a young woman who was in the hospital for months.
“Merlin literally pulled me toward her room each week,” Sheri recalled. “She would get so excited to see him, and he adored her. The unconditional love was palpable.”
They often receive follow-up stories from families, sometimes running into people downtown who still carry Merlin’s “baseball card”—a fun keepsake therapy dogs hand out with their photo and a little bio.
A local celebrity with a magical look
Merlin’s signature purple paws draw attention everywhere he goes—and that’s the point. His whimsical look, inspired by the show Pooch Perfect, includes carefully dyed fur with pet-safe colors and is maintained by a generous groomer who donates the creative styling as part of the therapy mission.
“People think he’s wearing boots from far away,” Sheri laughed. “When kids ask about the paws, we tell them he was kissed by a unicorn. They love that!”
Merlin’s joyful aesthetic is no accident — it’s part of his ability to break the ice and make instant emotional connections.
Bringing joy to public spaces
The Chisholms also bring Merlin into downtown Ann Arbor, frequenting patios and dog-friendly events like the Art Fair.
“Downtown is a great training ground for a therapy dog,” Scott said. “All the sounds, smells, and distractions help him stay focused. And of course, he spreads Merlin-joy to everyone he meets.”
Reactions are overwhelmingly positive — from grins and giggles to impromptu photo ops.
“You can hear people saying ‘Awww’ as we walk down the street,” Sheri said. “Kids are especially drawn to him. And even adults who’ve had bad experiences with dogs often come around thanks to Merlin.”
The dog behind the magic
Merlin is now four and a half years old, born on Halloween 2020 and adopted on Christmas Eve. His name is a nod to his magical presence — and his flair for enchantment.
“He’s a very smart dog,” Sheri noted. “He communicates with about 15 buttons in our living room. He can say things like ‘I love you,’ ‘play,’ or ‘outside.’ It’s incredible.”
Despite his impressive training, Merlin has his quirks, too. He’s afraid of loud noises like thunder and fireworks, and loves hot dogs, cheese and Pup Cups. “He always wants to know if you’re going to finish that,” Scott joked.
Even his bathroom habits are unique — Merlin has been trained to do his business in shrubbery or garden beds. “No yellow grass and no backyard cleanup!” Sheri said with a grin.
A call for a kinder community
The Chisholms hope to inspire others, not just to appreciate therapy dogs, but to support their integration into more public spaces.
“We’d love to see more restaurants and venues allow dogs on patios,” Sheri emphasized. “Dogs, especially trained ones, can bring joy to so many people.”
They also encourage fellow dog owners to consider therapy work. With the right temperament and training, many dogs can bring emotional relief to people in need.
“Dogs seem happiest when they have a job,” Sheri said. “Even if that job is just to sit and stay or provide comfort. Merlin thrives when he’s helping others.”
Kindness is contagious
Through their visits, Merlin and his humans have seen firsthand how small moments of connection can have a ripple effect.
“We’ve been invited into people’s lives during some of their hardest times,” Scott said. “Being able to provide peace, love, and support is an incredible gift — for them, and for us.”
Whether he’s comforting a child in the ER, cheering up a long-term patient, or simply prancing around downtown with a friendship bracelet on his paw, Merlin is more than just a dog — he’s a reminder that magic still exists, especially when shared.
As Sheri beautifully summed it up: “Kindness is contagious—and Merlin is living proof.”
There are many other wonderful therapy dog teams in our town, and if you have ever considered becoming a therapy dog team, you can reach out to the Alliance of Therapy Dogs to become certified.
It is very flexible, and you can volunteer once a month or once a day.
“You and your dog can make such a big difference paying it forward in your own community spreading much needed love, joy, comfort and best of all puppy snuggles,” she said.
Donna Marie Iadipaolo is a writer, journalist, and State of Michigan certified teacher, since 1990. She has written for national publications like The Village Voice, Ear Magazine of New Music, Insurance & Technology, and TheStreet.
She is now writing locally for many publications, including Current Magazine, Ann Arbor Family, and the Ann Arbor Independent. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she graduated with an honors bachelor’s degree and three teacher certificate majors: mathematics, social sciences, English. She also earned three graduate degrees in Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Education Specialist Degree.
