Wearing sunglasses and a gingham dress, Zoé Ariana Sheri Cole arrived fashionably late at Danville Care South. Her admirers smiled and reached out to touch her, but Zoé was all business.

She had a skit to perform, and then she would mingle with her adoring fans.

The toy poodle is used to being in the spotlight.

“Everybody knows Zoé,” owner Sherry Cole of Danville said.

At only 3 years old, Zoé is a therapy dog and also participates in obedience shows. She has several ribbons that are almost bigger than she is.

Cole takes the dog to local nursing homes on a regular basis to visit the residents. Zoé goes through her paces for the appreciative audience, showing how she can “give five” with her paws, jump over hurdles and through hoops, twirl, bump balloons with her nose and do other tricks.

Then, Cole carries the little dog around so the residents can pet her curly head and murmur words of praise.

One time, a woman who hadn’t spoken for 18 months reached out to Zoé and said “Fifi.” Also, there’s a man who thinks Zoé is his poodle, Joe.

A therapy dog in a nursing home brings back memories of the residents’ own pets, and that brightens their days, Cole said.

In fact, Cole made the decision to become therapy-certified several years ago, when her sister Barbara Dalle was hospitalized with cancer. Barbara especially enjoyed seeing the therapy dog who visited.

“It meant so much to her,” Cole recalled. “I said, ‘if I get a puppy, I’ll do therapy (visits).’”

Cole had had miniature poodles in the past. When the last one died at age 14 ½, she got on the Internet to find a replacement. Her nephew Wade Kammin, who has a toy poodle, helped her look for breeders.

She found Zoé in Wisconsin; she was 9 weeks old and weighed 2 pounds, 2 ounces and she comes from a long line of show dogs. Right away, Cole realized how smart the dog was and at 7 months, Zoé was learning basic obedience training from Donna Cash.

Cole got a book on rally obedience and the two started working hard. With rally obedience, the dog and handler follow the commands on signs, such as “sit.”

At 1 year old, Zoé started doing rally obedience and has won ribbons in all three levels. She also has won two awards of excellence from the All Pets Dog Training and has her Canine Good Citizen.

The two do so well because they’re a team, Cole said, adding, “She believes in me and I believe in her.”

Zoé and Cole attend dog obedience shows in the area.

Cole has found her own calling, too, and helps teach small dogs with Cash. She also has become an AKC therapy-dog evaluator.

“Whoever thought I’d be doing this? I’m thrilled to be part of this,” Cole said.

When she’s not training dogs, Cole works as an assistant for dentist Dr. George Zundo.

Zoé has quite a wardrobe of outfits, including sunglasses, and Cole complimented Zoé’s “hairdresser,” Shelly Hawkins with South Paw Grooming.

“She makes sure she (Zoé) looks like a dream when we go (to shows),” Cole said.

Cole recommends dog training for everyone, adding, “It’s amazing how smart they are.” A well-mannered dog is an enjoyable dog, she said.

Referring to her husband, Dick, she said, “I think we enjoy her so much because she’s so good.”

Dick, who’s retired from Danville Metal Stamping, supports their dog-show trips and also has a bond with Zoé.

Although Zoé shines in the spotlight, at the end of the day — when the dresses and sunglasses are put away — she’s just a fun dog who likes playing with her toys, Cole said.

And she’s a bright spot in the family’s life.

“She’s awesome. We’re very blessed to have her,” Cole said.

Zoé even inspired Cole’s grandson, Sloan Sharpf, 12, to get a standard poodle puppy, who will be trained.

Cole also said that her next dog will be a rescue dog, noting there are too many homeless animals.

Zoé might be a little bundle of curls, but she brings big smiles to people in nursing homes, and has touched many hearts in her three years.

If you would like to have your pet featured in this column, contact Mary Wicoff at 477-5161, send an e-mail to mwicoff@dancomnews.com or write to Commercial-News, 17 W. North, Danville, IL 61832.