One of the most popular residents in a senior living community is also among its youngest: Edgar, a 5-year-old French bulldog.

Every day, Edgar heads to Friendship Village Chesterfield , a senior living community in the greater St. Louis area, with Transportation Manager Sarah Smith, who got him as a 10-week-old puppy in the fall of 2020. With Covid lockdowns in full swing, she offered to bring him to work to try to brighten spirits during that isolating time.

“People couldn’t come here. Residents couldn’t go anywhere,” Smith said. “So we brought Edgar in and our residents just took to him.”

The mellow dog makes the most of his fervent fanbase. He’s charmed so many residents that most keep morsels of food and treats in their pockets for him. He’s learned to stop by the on-site market, where he always gets Cheerios, and to swing by the ice cream shop for a “pup cup” of whipped cream.

“He comes to our ‘Brews, Chews and News’ on Monday mornings where we serve donuts and he knows what residents are going to give him a piece of donut,” Smith said. “He’s very food motivated.”

Edgar earns his adoration with entertaining antics. During exercise class, he’ll stand on his back two paws to participate, which motivates more people to attend. When someone plays the piano, he’ll sit on the piano bench wearing his St. Louis Cardinals jersey for a rousing rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”

On Thursdays, the dog hits the hair salon with lucky ladies and lies next to them while their hair dryers hum. Sometimes residents will request time alone with Edgar to walk around the lake or simply watch TV together.

“Staff will come by and when they're having a rough day and just pick him up and you can hear them talking to him going down the hallway, and residents that don't have a spouse, they'll sit with him and talk to him or take him out,” Smith said. “He brightens a lot of people’s day.”

Edgar’s Meaningful Connections

When Smith drives residents to doctor appointments, many request that Edgar come, too. One woman with heart issues had to go to numerous rehabilitation appointments and he was in the car almost every day. Afterward, she was so grateful that she painted pictures of him.

Back at Friendship Village Chesterfield, the Frenchie likes to cruise around in his remote controlled “Power Wheel,” which is sure to bring smiles, according to Sarah Corbett, senior director of community life services at Friendship Village.

“He's definitely the mascot,” she said. “Everybody knows him and looks for him, even the staff.”

Edgar attends staff meetings and helps remind the team to relax and have a little fun, according to Corbett. The dog brings myriad benefits to residents by helping keep residents active and simply bringing people together. While residents can have their own pets, there’s something special about having Edgar be a dog everyone can love and share.

Plus, French bulldogs are the most popular dog breed in America, and he helps remind residents why.

For his part, Edgar enjoys soaking up attention and feeling like a celebrity while he lives his best life at work and at home with Smith, who is delighted to share her special dog with so many people.

“He just makes everyone so happy here,” she said.