Community says good-bye to a beloved friend

Intermountain Catholic

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Jim Upton (second from left) says good-bye to Truman, his 8-year-old golden retriever, who touched the hearts of many. Friends, family, and co-workers gather to remember Truman by planting a Mimosa tree, which is very touchable. Everyone loved to pet Truman so he is being remembered with a tree people can touch. IC photos by Christine Young

SALT LAKE CITY — "Truman touched the hearts of many and made them feel normal in a world that is not normal," said Barbara Wolfe, a Catholic Community Services (CCS) Weigand Homeless Day Center administrative assistant.

Truman, an 8-year-old golden retriever, was hit by a car and killed May 31. He was a certified therapy dog who comforted many people at CCS’ St. Vincent de Paul Center and Weigand Homeless Day Center in Salt Lake City.

"When I am with Truman, the voices stop and I can hear God," said one homeless man.

Tears fell as the homeless and working poor, family, friends, and co-workers gathered June 14, to say good-bye to Truman and comfort Jim Upton, Truman’s owner, and director of St. Vincent de Paul Center and Weigand Homeless Day Center.

"This has been a rough couple of weeks," said Upton. "I fed him, he slept in my house, and I was his caretaker, but Truman belonged to everybody. He came to work with me everyday."

"Literally hundreds of folks who are homeless, mentally ill, and addicted visit these centers daily," said Judy Upton, Jim’s wife. "Truman became an extension of Jim passing out some very needed affection. Truman had a routine. He would first visit all the CCS workers, then visit his friends in the day room, and then go to Head Start to play with the children."

"It was the people who come here who decided to have a memorial for Truman," said Jim. "Truman has been here for so long they wanted to plant a tree in his honor."

"Truman and I were asked to join a standing committee at the Third District Court," said Jim. "We met with the committee once a month to help work on problems with pro-se litigants, those who are not represented by a lawyer in family law or civil cases. So today there are judges, clerks, bailiffs, and others I know from church here to say good-bye to Truman. It just amazes me. Truman was a special guy.

"Two months ago my father-in-law died, and it was a sad and terrible time, but I will tell you, I have never been through this kind of pain," said Jim. "Dogs are such special spirits."

Rev. Dr. F. Russell Baker, pastor of the Bountiful Community Church, blessed the ground where Truman’s tree was planted. Rev. Baker prayed, "We give thanks for Truman’s unconditional love, his ability to sense our needs, and be a quiet companion in our time of trouble and distress.

"We give thanks for his gentle faithfulness that seemed to instinctively know our soul’s needs, and his quiet consistency of care upon which so many of us depended when all the world around us seemed in disarray and was engulfed in uncertainty," prayed Rev. Baker. "We give thanks for his ability to be the quiet and calming source of our courage, for his unique listening ear to those of us who needed to voice our concerns and frustrations with life, and for his comforting demeanor that seemed to allow us this needed time to vent our aggravations.

"We give thanks for his ability to give love and joy by his mere presence because he accepted everyone regardless of our faults and gave us hope for the future and brightness in our often weary days."

Judy said Truman received postcards from friends traveling all around the country and presents of balls and treats. Folks moving from the area would stop in to say good-bye to Truman.

"Truman touched more than our lives, he made many lives better," said Jim. "He was a gift to everyone, and brought a sense of calm and joy every place he went."

Rev. Baker said Truman was part of the Rocky Mountain Conference of therapy dogs supported by local churches in Denver, Colorado, and Utah. Truman was based with the Bountiful Community Church, which has dogs that go into classrooms to work with autistic children, and in many other areas.

"Although Truman will never be replaced in our hearts, Judy and I decided to get another dog. We now have Luke, who is an 11-week-old golden retriever," said Jim. "We hope he will be Truman’s legacy. He is already coming to work with me and he will soon be tested, trained, and hopefully certified as a therapy dog."

Chrissy Upton, Jim’s daughter, said, "I can already tell Luke is going to be like Truman because the dogs take on my dad’s personality, and he cares for so many people every day."