Tosca was a sleek, black German Shepherd with a beautiful face and expressive brown eyes,  a sweet, gentle soul who had simple pleasures in her too-short 9 years of life.  Some of these were  her big red ball which she would drop at every visitor’s feet hoping for a game of fetch; her best friend Owen, a mixed breed half her size who shared her home and was always by her side, night and day; children who would let her lick their faces.  She loved to catch snowballs in her mouth and never missed.  And she was generous with her affection, especially when she sensed sadness.  “Here’s a big kiss—now don’t you feel better?”   She will be dearly remembered and sadly missed.

Tosca shined as a therapy dog, but did especially good work with children of all ages. Her ability to pick up on cues and to fit into any situation was extraordinary. Tosca was a truly gentle, sensitive soul who helped change ideas that many adolescents have about "police dogs." Her time at The Compass School in Jamaica Plain encouraged the young men to play with her, lie on the floor, pat her, brush her and generally agree that Tosca was a wonderful, trustworthy dog and that maybe German Shepherds weren't so scary after all. Tosca's ability to offer herself up without reservation and to respond to the needs of others suited her everywhere she went and will be remembered by everyone who knew her.