On any given day on Hilton Head Island, you might spot a magnificent white Great Pyrenees padding along the beach, greeting children at community events, or calmly leaning into someone who clearly needs comfort more than words.
That dog is Martina and, for her owner, Jennifer Rulli, Martina is far more than a beloved pet. She is a rescued survivor, a certified therapy dog, a trained crisis-response partner, and now, once again, the heart of a beautifully illustrated children’s book.
Jennifer Rulli and Martina the Island Therapy Dog pose for a photo at the Shops at Sea Pines Center. Rulli held a book signing at By Hand, Ink in December of last year.
Rulli’s second book, Martina the Island Therapy Dog: At Work and At Play, builds on the success of her first release, Martina’s Purpose, which introduced readers to Martina’s dramatic rescue and healing journey. This new installment shifts the focus forward, celebrating who Martina is today and the gentle, joyful ways she serves her island community and beyond.
“The first book told her story from her perspective – how she ended up tangled in barbed wire in the middle of nowhere and survived,” Rulli said. “This second book is different. It’s a fun read. It’s not sad. It’s not heavy. It’s just her life now – what she does, where she goes, who she meets.”
While Martina the Island Therapy Dog feels light and accessible, it rests on a foundation of deep commitment to animal welfare that spans more than a decade. Long before Martina became an island fixture, Rulli was immersed in rescue work in Indiana, volunteering with an organization that was at risk of shutting down.
“I couldn’t bear the thought of the rescue going under,” Rulli said. “So, I bought a 17-acre farm, took months to find the right property, and we built a rescue. It’s still there today.”
Rulli’s second book, Martina the Island Therapy Dog: At Work and At Play, builds on the success of her first release, Martina’s Purpose, which introduced readers to Martina’s dramatic rescue and healing journey. This new installment shifts the focus forward, celebrating who Martina is today and the gentle, joyful ways she serves her island community and beyond.
That rescue became Martina’s starting point as well, a story you can read about in Rulli’s first book. For 10 years, she owned the property and helped stabilize the organization. It was there that Martina’s life was not only saved but redirected.
“That’s really how all of this began,” Rulli said. “Martina came from that rescue. Everything she’s doing now traces back to that decision.”
The new book reflects Martina’s current role as a certified therapy dog and a trained HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response dog. Through engaging photographs and simple, engaging text, young readers see Martina visiting schools, attending community events, training alongside first responders, and offering quiet comfort in moments that matter.
“She’s a HOPE dog,” Rulli said. “That means animal-assisted crisis response. We trained nationally and went through evaluations, including a three-hour session in Atlanta and a full certification process.”
While Martina and Rulli have not yet been deployed to a disaster zone, their ongoing training and participation in national conferences have prepared them for high-stress environments. The book includes images of Martina with firefighters and in training scenarios, gently introducing children to the idea that animals can help humans heal during difficult times.
Visually, the book is grounded in authenticity. Nearly all of the illustrations are based on photographs Rulli intentionally captured along the way.
“About 90% of the illustrations came from actual photos I had taken, knowing I wanted to do a second book,” she said. “With the first book, some scenes had to be imagined. This one is very real. Very her.”
Alongside the meaningful work, the book also captures Martina at play – on the beach, out and about on the island, and soaking up the affection of those she meets. It’s a balance that mirrors her real life.
The crew from Pockets Full of Sunshine came out to support Rulli and Martina and get their new books signed. (Beach Photography HiltonHead)
She Just Knows
What the book only hints at, but what Rulli witnesses daily, is Martina’s remarkable instinct. While rigorous HOPE training shaped her professionalism, Rulli believes Martina’s greatest strength can’t be taught.
“She just knows,” Rulli said. “Her training helped, but her instinctual ability to understand what’s needed in any given moment – that’s all her.”
In hospital settings, that intuition becomes especially clear. “I’ll tell a patient to put their hand out from the bed, and Martina immediately goes to it – after politely greeting whoever else is in the room first,” Rulli said. “It’s like she reads the situation instantly.”
Even subtle cues don’t escape her. If Martina is resting on the floor and someone approaches from behind, Rulli barely has to speak. “All I have to do is say, ‘Marty, get up,’ snap my fingers, and she gets up, looks at me, and goes straight to the person who wants to greet her.”
Ironically, that intuitive brilliance didn’t always align with traditional obedience training. “She was not the easiest dog to train for basic obedience,” Rulli said. “To the point where a trainer wanted her hips X-rayed because she looked at me like I was nuts when I asked her to lie down.”
A costly vet visit confirmed there was nothing physically wrong, just a dog who preferred to think for herself. “She did pass that part of the Canine Good Citizen test because I worked with her using steak beforehand,” Rulli said. “During the test, I only had the smell of it on my hand. No treats allowed.”
Many handlers pride themselves on perfect sits and stays. “Martina? Not so much,” Rulli said. “But when she’s working, she is – in my opinion – superior in every way.”
That distinction becomes especially clear around other certified dogs. “Some therapy dogs can be a little too frisky,” Rulli said. “They want to sniff other dogs, which is a no-no because there’s a two-foot rule. Martina doesn’t do that at all. I believe that comes from her HOPE training, which is very stringent.”
At home, Martina may be selectively obedient. “She rarely listens to me,” Rulli said. “But that’s OK, because she more than makes up for it when she’s working.”
A Story That Gives Back
As with the first book, proceeds from Martina the Island Therapy Dog: At Work and At Play will benefit local charities, an intentional choice that reflects Rulli’s belief that Martina’s story should continue to serve others.
“The books are on Amazon and locally at Le Spa, Coligny Hardware, By Hand, Ink, Novant Health gift shop, and through the Pockets Full of Sunshine and Mirasol Health websites,” she said. “But what matters most to me is that the proceeds go to local charities.”
Ultimately, this book is less about transformation and more about presence. Readers, young and old, meet Martina not as a rescued dog defined by her past, but as a confident, purposeful companion who brings calm wherever she goes.
“This book is about who she is right now,” Rulli said. “It’s about joy, connection, and what a dog can do simply by showing up.”
That message resonates just as strongly with adults as it does with children, especially in a world that often feels hurried and heavy. Martina’s story demonstrates that sometimes healing and happiness unexpectedly arrive on four furry paws.
To learn more, visit JenniferAndMartina.com.
