A couple, their dogs and their golf car are popular in a North Carolina community.
A “golf car couple” and their dogs are a familiar sight in an area of North Carolina.
According to WMBF News, Lee and Susanne Riley can often be found around U.S. 501 in the Carolina Forest area, waving at passerby with their golden retrievers Tank and Jackson.
“We’ve been bringing them out since they’ve been puppies,” Susanne told one couple passing by when WMBF paid a visit. “Just to help people out, give them a smile for the day and make their day. Let me show you what they look like when they were babies.”
Tank and Jackson sometimes dress up – they wore Santa Claus hats for Christmas and rocked American flag bandanas when WMBF News visited.
“They just need a smiling dog face or a lick or a hug or whatever,” Lee told WMBF about the dogs’ service to others.
Added Susanne: “If we can bring smiles and just make their day. And for those who have lost their loved ones, their puppy loved ones, it just makes them happy. We don’t rush them, we just let them enjoy their time with them. And if we can bring smiles to faces that’s what it’s all about. Just giving everybody a happy day, and make their day a little bit brighter than it was before.”
The couple sometimes drives their golf car to Olive Garden, where staff brings out breadsticks for Tank and Jackson. They often pass by other businesses along their usual route where workers and regulars know them. It’s a tradition that dates back 15 years and to their last golden retriever. The routine, the Rileys said, has become more important since Susanne had to recover several years ago from a serious car accident.
“Part of her getting better was to get out,” Lee told WMBF. “Getting the dogs made that possible because people want to play with puppies, especially in the times with all this pandemic mess going on, and need a smile. So bringing them out brings joy to other people and also helps her with her recovery. So all the better.”
