A pharmacist's best friend

FINDLAY — Most patrons of Scarbrough Pharmacy in Findlay are there to pick up medication or fill their prescription. But ever since owner and pharmacist Carrie Sampson brought in a special new "employee" almost two years ago, folks often stop by just to see him. "He's just the best," Sampson said. "We just all love having him here." Rusty is an almost two-year-old golden retriever that comes into the pharmacy every week day with Sampson, his owner. "He's pretty much turned into what everybody comes to see. They don't come to see us anymore. They come to see him," she laughed. Although he doesn't fill prescriptions, compound medicine or do any of the things pharmacists normally do, he helps out in a different way — by providing emotional support to customers and staff alike. "Pharmacies can be crazy and busy," Sampson said. "Sometimes things come up and we get stressed, but if you can just take a minute and give him a little pet, I think our morale is better." Golden retrievers are known for their laid-back temperament, and Rusty was trained to stay relaxed when he's behind the counter. "He's been trained not to mess with anything," Sampson said. "I practiced dropping things on the floor to see what he would do … if I think he's going towards something, I just tell him 'leave it.' And he leaves it." Kids absolutely love Rusty, she said. "They don't feel good. They're getting an antibiotic and they don't want to be here. And then they see him and they just don't want to leave." "When they pet him, you can just see their faces brighten up," Sampson said. Sampson and her staff are excited about celebrating Rusty's second birthday on Aug. 21. "Last year we had one, too," she said. "People came in just for that. They got to pet him and have a piece of cake and he got more gifts than I think I do on my birthday." She encourages her regulars and new faces to stop by on that day. "I just thought it'd be a nice community thing for people," Sampson said. "Everybody needs a reason to celebrate." Her favorite thing about Rusty is seeing the joy he brings to people on a daily basis. "It kind of makes me emotional," she said. "You can tell sometimes when people are having a hard time, and we're just a really disconnected world right now. For us to have that extra connection with people through him, it's just another talking point to get people to connect. And I think he's done a good job of that. "He has definitely (been) a blessing to have here with us," Sampson said.