June 2023
Spotlight: Navigator Buddy Duo Sheryl and Charlie
Sheryl and Charlie Clark are one of the newest Navigator Buddy teams to join our fabulous group of Navigators. Sheryl was born and raised in Long Beach, California, but has lived in the Valley for the past 23 years. Before Sheryl and Charlie, there was Sheryl and Max, a 115-pound black Labrador, that started her on this altruistic and loving journey of volunteering adventures.
She would take Max to visit various children’s clinics. He was a certified crisis response dog, so the power duo was often deployed to help in crisis situations throughout the country. As Max approached his elder years, another black Labrador named Charlie joined the pack. Through Max, Sheryl had fallen in love with this breed, so she knew she always wanted another black Lab. “They're tolerant of anybody, they love kids, they love people. They're smart and gentle,” she exclaims. “I really wanted him to be a therapy dog too.”
When Sheryl lost Max in January 2023, she said, “It just wasn't the same… I loved volunteering.”
She knew Charlie had the perfect personality and a loving heart equal to Max’s. So, she started working with him right away, enrolling him in puppy classes and socializing him with other people and pups. Along with their certification, dogs must also pass a basic obedience class and have an overall calm demeanor. They must like people and not be afraid of crowds, so Sheryl and Charlie practiced every chance they got .
Throughout her time and working with other Valley organizations, Sheryl connected with a network of like-minded volunteers. Some of her friends included some of our very own Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Navigators! They introduced her to the PHX Navigator and Navigator Buddy program and encouraged her and Charlie to check into it and spend time at PHX while honing their skills.
Her Navigator friend, Carol, an established evaluator with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, was tasked with assessing Charlie’s skills and capacities to see if he was ready. At 15 months old and weighing a solid 75 pounds, Charlie excelled at his certification exams and proved he had the right stuff. He’s now been a part of our PHX Navigator Buddy team for eight months and loves his new job!
“Charlie's good with anybody,” Sheryl proudly states, as she caresses his black shiny coat. He responds with a jubilant look in his eyes. The new power duo walks through the west end of the Terminal 4 baggage claim, before venturing upstairs to level three. Along the way, their warm and welcoming demeanor encourages travelers of all ages to stop and pet Charlie’s robust shoulders and back. In that moment, these travelers seem to relax and enjoy the tranquil moment… Parents enjoying the moment they see their children’s faces light up.
“We even helped a few of the refugees, a few weeks ago. One of the ladies had a little boy, and we gave him a little toy airplane. We've just met all kinds of people.” Sheryl says that, along with meeting these folks, Charlie also enjoys riding the PHX Sky Train® and visiting every single coffee place in both terminals. She giggles when talking about how Charlie loves their whipped cream pup cups.
“It is a great job. The best job at the airport because we can walk around where we want to.” When their shift ends and they get home, Sheryl is understandably tired, and her feet hurt. Charlie, however, rushes to pick up the first toy he sees and demands more play time. He has lots and lots of energy and his day isn’t over yet. So tonight, he plays and gleefully waits for his next Navigator Buddy shift at Phoenix Sky Harbor, to walk those adorable black paws along the terrazzo floors… Just like when Max walked around all the places he went helping everyone he saw along the way.
To learn more about our PHX Navigator and Navigator Buddy program, visit skyharbor.com/volunteer.