Five Huntington County team members of Fort Wayne's Three Rivers Visiting Dogs group achieved "Top Visits" ranking this past year.

In total, the group made 939 visits, with the Huntington team members accounting for one-third of the visits. The Three Rivers group has 100 members in all.

The Huntington team makes visits every day of the month except the third Friday to Parkview Huntington, Lutheran and St. Joseph hospitals and OakBrook Village, Miller's Merry Manor, Hickory Creek at Huntington, Heritage Pointe of Warren, The Heritage of Huntington, Tipton House, Markle Health & Rehabilitation, Norwood Health and Rehabilitation and Pathfinder Services.

Members with top visits were Sharon Laupp, with 247, Emil Stender, 133; Sylvia McHenry, 128; Sharon Ernst, 125; Judy Stender, 124; Juanita Crouch, 99; and Deb Davis, 83.

Also, new member Sarah Karst joined the team one month ago and is currently accumulating visits for 2013.

Complete caption:
Huntington County team members of Fort Wayne's Three Rivers Visiting Dogs group were recently recognized for making almost 1,000 visits in 2012 to nursing homes and hospitals. Members and their dogs are (from left) Sharon Ernst and "Daisy"; Sylvia McHenry and "Bella"; Deb Davis, with "Pugsly," "Toby" and "Raven"; Sharon Laupp and "Spencer"; and Sarah Karst and "Riley." Not pictured are Emil and Judy Stender, and "Emmy" and "Bailey," and Juanita Crouch and "Disco."