Guide Dog Who Changed the Senate Floor Passes

Every now and then we post articles not about celebrities and their animals but about celebrity animals. This is one of those articles. Beau was not a famous canine actor, but he did become well known back in 1997 when he changed the rules of the U.S. Senate.

You see, Beau wasn't just a pet--he was a guide dog. His human companion, Moira Shea, worked for Sen. Ron Wyden's office but was not permitted on the floor of the Senate because the rules pertaining to animals on the Senate floor were fuzzy (no pun intended). Wyden quickly introduced a resolution to allow disabled people to bring "supporting services," including dogs, onto the floor, and Moira was then able to attend to her business in the capital with the assistance of Beau.

Beau passed away this month having lived a long and distinguished life of service. In addition to changing the stodgy and unfair rules in the Senate, he served Moira well and loyally until 2002 when Beau retired, replaced at Moira's side -- but not in her heart -- by Owen, also a yellow Lab.

Beau then began going to work every day with Shea's husband, Christophe G. Lorrain, a teacher. "He would go out of the house in the morning and try to guide my husband," whose vision is fine, Shea said. "Beau still needed to feel like he was working. He still needed a job. That's what he was born to do."

We just wanted to take a moment to honor a good, hard-working dog who was a celebrity in the very best sense of the word!

You can read more about Beau on the Washington Post Web site.