Larry Di Giovanni/Mount Vernon News
Humphery stands up on his hind legs to comfort his friend, Army veteran Daryl Hicks of Mount Vernon, prior to his foot-related medical procedure Monday at the VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Mansfield.
MOUNT VERNON — Retired nurse Karen Cox is a shade under five feet tall, which means her large, 125 pounds service dog, Humphery the bloodhound, is bigger than she. But it is his caring ways around those who have medical issues which show a giant heart to match his size.
“He is full of empathy,” said Cox, who lives in an Mount Vernon apartment with Humphery and her cat, Eclipse. “He lets me know when my muscles are weak and I need to sit down.”
Cox said Humphery has certainly come to her aid when in dire medical need. It might be unusual for a large hound known for tracking prowess to gain status as a service dog, but he’s more than earned it in her view. At age 5, he is still a somewhat young yet wise dog.
“He’s saved me three times from anaphylaxis (shock),” she said. “I’m allergic to most of the medications I have taken for my condition, lupus. He has brought me the phone to call for help. And Humphery helped revive me by licking my face.”
Neighbor Daryl Hicks, 72, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam, is also close to Humphery. They travel to Veterans Administration medical facilities together, and Cox goes with them when she can. Hicks, a retired Army sergeant, was injured numerous times in Vietnam including the need for skin grafts after he was shot by an AK-47 in his right forearm. He was returning enemy fire in a place called Dong Ha at the time.
On Monday, Humphery traveled with Hicks and his owner to the VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Mansfield. Although Hicks was only to have a minor foot-related procedure, Humphery seemed to sense his friend needed comfort in the patient waiting area. He stood up on his hind legs directly in front of Hicks, placing his front paws on Hicks’ leg.
“We’re good buds, aren’t we, huh?” Hicks said, talking to his canine friend. The two also do some non medically-related traveling together: “I used to have a 1932 Ford Roadster, and Humphery was in the front seat with me.”
As a certified service dog who helps Cox and others with medical needs, Humphery accompanies her just about everywhere. That includes dog parks, senior care facilities, and checkout lines at grocery stores. Humphery wears a vest which reads “Service Animal, Do Not Pet, Protected Under Federal Law.”
It’s the “Do Not Pet” part that can be hard to enforce, especially around children. She sometimes allows for exceptions because her extra large hound loves people. Cox, who was a registered nurse for 35 years, considers herself an animal advocate, just as Humphery is a people advocate. At the VA clinic, she encouraged other patients to allow Humphery to greet them. And he can quickly attract a following in crowded areas.
“One day after the checkout line at Kroger there were about 20 people waiting for us,” she said.
Before apartment life, Cox used to live on a farm with her husband, the late Ken Cox. At one time, they had several hounds — Bubba, BJ and Otis, the first two being Walker Coon hounds and Otis being a bloodhound. Otis gave her a special love for bloodhounds.
“He started singing whenever he heard Gwen Stefani songs,” she remembered.
All of her dogs died within a short span of months from 2013 and 2014, and her husband also passed on in 2014.
She needed companionship again as well as a dog who could be trained for awareness of her medical needs. A friend of hers on an Indiana farm had a large litter of bloodhounds — and Humphery happened to be the “runt,” she laughed, knowing how hard that is to believe.
Like Otis before him, bloodhound Humphery has musical tastes. “He will sing along when my friend plays her saxophone,” she said.
Humphery’s empathy toward other animals is also apparent. One time a frantic dog owner had temporarily lost track of two puppies — and Humphery tracked them down no problem.
He also appreciates decorum among fellow canines gathered together.
“When Humphery is at the dog park other dogs are not allowed to be bullies,” Cox said. “He stands up for the underdog.”
He does not fight aggressive dogs but will slam into them if needed, she said. Then he howls, or “bays” at close range — and the other dog will go in the other direction, not liking their hearing so affected.
As for where his name comes from, Cox said Humphery’s disposition is a naturally well-behaved, kind one. “He looked like a Humphery, a gentlemanly dog,” she offered.
