Every city dog loves some off-leash park time, and Simon is no exception. This New York pup has something truly special; while most dogs go home to grab their favorite toy or settle on the couch, Simon boasts a unique sash filled with custom merit badges!
A Very Good Boy
Simon is what you might call a professional good boy. When he entered Sophie Vershbow’s home as her fifth foster from Hearts & Bones Rescue, he instantly became a permanent part of her family. “It sounds ridiculous, but I saw just one photo of him among the dogs arriving from Dallas, Texas, and knew he was the one. I only had 48 hours to decide whether to foster or adopt him, but it was an easy choice. He blended into my life immediately,” Vershbow shared with The Dodo.
Not only did Simon integrate seamlessly into her life, but he also became the sweetest part of it. His charming ears, which bounce with excitement when he has the zoomies, coupled with his habit of curling up at her feet while she works, never fail to brighten her day. Simon’s remarkable aptitude for sensing emotional distress inspired Vershbow to create his merit badges. “His first badge was a teardrop for ‘Outstanding Achievements in Emotional Support.’ If I mumble, ‘Crap’ under my breath, he rushes in from the other room to comfort me,” she explained.
Sophie proudly crafted the badge using embroidery thread, demonstrating her appreciation for Simon’s attentiveness. She even fashioned a cute dog sash from an old pair of jeans, ensuring that he got the full experience. Naturally, he adored it! “Simon appeared so proud in the badge-ceremony video that I decided to create more,” said Vershbow, and fortunately, she captured this delightful moment:
From that point on, Vershbow ensured her good boy earned badges for different good deeds. Shortly after receiving his teardrop badge, Simon earned another for successfully hosting a houseguest and one for attending the family Passover seder.
Being a proud New Yorker, Simon earned an “MTA Ridership” badge for his proper use of public transport. “Simon has been awarded his 10th merit badge for being a good citizen of New York City. He eats lox, walks fast, and never pees on historically important monuments,” Vershbow noted on X.
As of now, Simon proudly sports 17 badges for his various accomplishments, including ‘Emotional Support,’ ‘Hosting Houseguests,’ ‘Attending Passover Seder,’ ‘Migraine Support,’ ‘MTA Ridership,’ ‘Thunderstorm Bravery,’ ‘Respecting The Ocean,’ ‘Extraordinary Ear Design,’ ‘Pup Cup Connoisseurship,’ ‘NYC Good Citizenship,’ ‘Self-love,’ ‘Park Patronage,’ ‘Advocacy [And] Fundraising,’ ‘I Did My Best’ (for fostering), ‘Excellence In Winter Fashion,’ ‘Patience,’ and ‘Horticultural Appreciation.’
No Plans Of Stopping
Even with such an impressive collection of badges, neither Simon nor Vershbow intends to stop this adorable tradition. In fact, they are currently working on Simon’s first partnership badge to support one of his favorite organizations. Wearing such a heavy sash may be a challenge, but he wears it with pride. “Adopting Simon was the best decision I’ve ever made. He deserves a thousand merit badges,” Vershbow concluded.
