Meet The Never Bean Better Team!!
Click "Read more" on each of our dogs to learn about them individually!
Bean
Neversink’s Never Bean Better His name was Bean from day one. In a sea of golden blonde puppies, one little red guy stood out in the litter. He is the son of Ruby, daughter of Maverick and her handsome beau Roy. This litter was whelped by Bean’s humans Jim and Michelle Drager. When it came time to give him a registered name, his human Jim came up with the clever Never Bean Better name that has now become the moniker over all things Bean. Who would ever guess that a puppy with the name Never Bean Better would grow up to be a renowned therapy dog? There may be something right in that saying, “be careful what you name your dog,” In this case, there is no more fitting name for this canine whose ultimate purpose was to care for others. Bean started his career as a very young dog. He completed his basic obedience class with the Berks County Dog Training Club at the age of six months. He then continued his obedience training with Awesome Dogs that gave him the opportunity to learn in unique places such as attending Reading Royals hockey games, hanging out at Cabela’s and the Berkshire Mall and even spending time on the ski slopes at Bear Creek. He loved all the attention and was fearless while working the room. Following his obedience training, he did the necessary training to earn the Canine Good Citizen title recognition and then went on to become a therapy dog. He was certified through Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Inc. and joined the Berks County Therapy Dog group. Bean did his very first therapy dog visits at Penn State Heath St. Joseph in 2011. Bean’s ease in being the center of attention and his infamous woo woo, gained attention when he made his acting debut in Animal Planet’s television series The Haunted. When the humans made the move across country to Montana, Bean and his pack had some fun and Bean ran for President. He ran under the Canine Party and kissed babies and woo’d Americans across the country during his presidential campaign tour making stops along the way so fans could get some “Bean Wuv.” He was quickly acquainted in his new turf and became a therapy dog at North Valley Hospital in Whitefish, MT. Bean loved to make rounds and he was the ambassador of the Teddy Bear project where a stuffed comfort toy was given out to every child who made a hospital stay. Bean was a part of some very special moments there and even shared in the hospital’s parades. Bean continued his therapy work across the country doing special projects that included some of the most difficult therapy dog work in areas of behavioral health, domestic violence, and grief and suicide loss support. Bean provided a furry coat to cry on in the aftermath of natural disasters and manmade ones giving those in need a dose of Bean wuv. He became a pioneer among virtual therapy dogs with the launch of Never Bean Better and engaged with tens of thousands of social media followers on six continents long before virtual was a regular way of life. Bean was a media magnet. He was quoted in the Wall Street Journal, and then became a source for writers covering all things canine. He didn’t let his fame go to his pet-able head. Bean used his recognition to help support both humans and canines in need. He served as a spokesdog for canine causes and was present at numerous nonprofit walks and events, including galas. His efforts have served to help raise awareness around canine causes such as cancer and worked on campaigns to help rescue organizations. He walked for babies, and did runs for the horses, participated in tales for tots, and barked for parks and playgrounds. In 2017, Bean was honored with a National Calendar Day – Never Bean Better Day on August 22. That is Bean’s actual birthday. The day is a perpetual reminder to take time to live in the moment like dogs do. Bean’s special message was always delivered with a wagging tail and a big woo woo! Bean shared joy and comfort as an active therapy dog until his passing in October 2022.
Uncle Trooper
Neversink’s Road to Belvedere, MH, RN, CCA, Am/Can***, TA, VCX, OS Uncle Trooper, as he od known in the Never Bean Better world, was truly a dog of all times. This stoic gentleman was always the wise role model for all the dogs. Ruby, Bean’s Momma, was his older sister. She had a grand influence on her incredibly talented little brother. Trooper was a biddable and loyal companion and competition dog. He was fiercely focused and an impeccable teammate, working in tandem and precision with his handler. His accomplishments are impressive with some of the highest-ranking titles in retrieving field, as well as titling in rally obedience and placing in the show ring. These achievements awarded him the prestigious versality excellence title. He passed on his incredible talent to the pups he sired both in the United States and Canada, earning him the esteemed recognition as an outstanding sire. Above all of those achievements, he was the most loyal friend and guardian of our Never Bean Better pack. He was truly Bean’s Uncle and actually the grandpa to Carly Q. Now, we get to experience his legacy as we watch Traveler, his baby boy, grow into his own. He has some of his daddy’s soul.
Carly "Q"
Rio’s Neversink Singer Winger, WC, JH Simply known at “Q” to the Never Bean Better family, Carly Q is really a dynamic diva. She may be known as the fashionista with a flair for hats and handbags, but this lady has been the comfort and caregiver of this pack from the day she arrived. Q arrived just a few months after the passing of Bean’s Momma Ruby. Bean had a difficult time with the loss of his Momma. He would whine and wait at the door for her endlessly. So, when Q came through the door as a platinum blonde beauty, she wrapped his around her dainty paw. She was Bean’s comfort dog. She is the granddaughter of Trooper and daughter of his very accomplished Canadian daughter Sierra and her handsome and well-known and awarded American beau Manny. She hails from Vancouver Island, Canada, and has ruled the Never Bean Better pack since she landed here. Q earned a couple of field-retrieving titles before retiring. She is the proud Momma of her singleton daughter, Diamond, who has shining talent and field achievements. Q is the proud GiGi to Diamond’s litter of puppies who are now growing up and all have gifted talents of their own. When Trooper passed away, Q again served as the comfort dog to Bean and then baby Teague as the pack lost their patriarch. Q and Bean were always side by side, and she laid back-to-back to him just before he passed away. It was her way of telling Bean that all was okay and that she had his back. As the matriarch of the pack, she is now busy watching over Teague and Trav. She enjoys sharing her time between Pennsylvania and Virgina with the humans she loves. Don’t underestimate the prowess of this golden girl, she can still get air on a dock jump into the pond and can do royal bird flushes on hunts in the field.
Teague
Pine Run’s Neversink Island Boy There is no bigger love bug in the Never Bean Better pack than Teague. He truly is everybody’s buddy. This handsome and biddable golden boy is the son of Maverick and a super accomplished and beautiful Jersey girl named Chick. Through amazing science and grace and because of IVF, the Never Bean Better pack is grateful to have Teague in our pack. Teague is named after the pack’s happy place, Chincoteague Island, Virginia. He loves splitting his time between Pennsylvania and Virgina as he trains for the field sport. When he is working, he is focused and driven, like his daddy Maverick. He has a true passion for retrieving. He will fetch anything you ask. Keep tossing and he will keep fetching. He currently holds a few passes in field competitions and is currently training to earn some of the same titles held by his accomplished ancestors. He loved his “Bean” and was honored to have him as his role model. Now, he serves as a Never Bean Better ambassador, carrying out the legacy of Bean’s love and joy. There is no doubt that he will become the next therapy dog in the pack and continue to carry out Bean’s work of compassion, kindness and Bean Wuv.
Traveler "Trav"
Rivercity’s Gone For the Day to Neversink Sometimes you are granted a very special gift when you least expect it. Traveler known to the Never Bean Better fans as “Trav “ is just that perfect gift. Trav is the super special son of Trooper and a beautiful and incredibly talented California girl, called Rye. After the loss of Trooper, our pack’s hearts were heavy. Through amazing science and grace, once again the miracle of IVF, the legacy of Trooper and his grandpaw Maverick will live on through Trav. We will forever be grateful to Rye for providing this special miracle. His journey to get to us started with a flight from California to Pennsylvania when he was 8 weeks old. Since then, he has been living up to his Traveler name, touring the east coast with his family. He was an instant fit with the Never Bean Better pack. He and Teague are the best of friends and Carly Q has stepped into the matriarch role once again. Sometimes you feel like you have met an old soul. Traveler is already running with the big dogs. Like his daddy Trooper, he is incredibility bright, already swimming and training at levels beyond his age. He had no problem making a splash in Trooper’s favorite swimming hole on day one! Trav is a fun puppy, eager to learn and a pro at getting everyone up and running. There is nothing like the love of a puppy to warm your heart. He landed here knowing just what he needed to do. Trav is the perfect ode to the names of Trooper and Maverick “Mav”. He is well on his way. There is no doubt about the places that Trav will go!
Bean's Littermates
Click "Read more" to read about all of the littermates
N'Ice (Bean's Sister) HRCH UH Neversink's Northern Ice Jewel CCA WCX MH Rambler (Bean's Brother) SR Neversink's Ramblin' Man CD RAE JH OA OAJ NF DS CGC TKI RATI RATO SCN SIN Scooter (Bean's Sister) Neversink Scooter Of The Elk SH MH Sookie Stackhouse (Bean's Sister) Neversink Grouse Run True Blood JH Stormy (Bean's Brother) Neversink's Perfect Storm Wren (Bean's Sister) Neversink's Flew Into My Life AX OAJ OF Maggie (Bean's Sister) Baby Boy Red (Bean's Brother, who crossed the Rainbow Bridge at age one day)
The O'Pake Team Contributors
NBB x O'Pake Team Members Kris Nolt- Executive Director of Marketing and Communications Michelle Conway- Executive Director of Student & Client Services Max Horn- Graduate Assistant of Student Services- Project lead Sarah Heckman- Graduate Assistant of Client Services- Project lead Ana Perez- Graduate Assistant of Digital Media- Project lead/Book design team Winifred Gutierrez- Graduate Assistant of Operations- Project lead/Book editor Jennifer Weasner- Graduate Assistant of Marketing- Project lead/Book design team Emily Sano- Fellow of Digital Media & Management- Book design team Kevaughn Ferguson- Fellow of Marketing- social media/book research team Aleksandra Kolesnikova- Fellow of Communications- social media/book research team Yesenia Maldonado- Fellow of Communications- social media/book research team Gwendolyn Kuckla- Fellow of Digital Media- Book design team Madison Pertl- Intern of Communications- book design team Caitlin Long- Director of Technology Transfer & Innovation Commercialization - Project lead of copyright team Blake Rutcosky–Fellow of Pre-Law copyright team Wesley Butler- GA of Economic Development copyright team Christian Wright- Fellow of Marketing – Website Designer
