A Pup Guided by God’s Love

A Pup Guided by God’s Love

My yellow lab, Alex, a certified therapy dog, tugged at her leash and
trotted down the elementary school hallway, eager to get to the kids
we’d been visiting the past couple of months. She stopped at our usual
classroom. I straightened her red scarf and opened the door. But there
were no kids. Just the teacher. That’s odd, I thought.
For years, I’d prayed for the chance to raise a therapy dog, and Alex
was a natural. A whip-smart, energetic pup, she breezed through
obedience training and became certified at just a year old. Deep in my
heart, I knew Alex was meant to do good in the world. When one of her
instructors told me about Dog Tales, a volunteer group that visits
schools and libraries with therapy dogs, encouraging folks to read, it
sounded perfect. Alex loved kids so I signed her up. Our assignment
was the local elementary school. From our first visit, the kids bonded
to Alex. Every time we came back, the students couldn’t wait to sit
and read with Alex.
But that day, with our regular class missing, I wondered if we could
help at all. I worried about Alex. She needed to do her therapy work.
“I’m so sorry,” the teacher said. “I forgot to call you. The kids are
out working on a project today.” Alex sat next to me and whined.
“Could we visit another class?” I asked. The teacher thought for a
moment. “There is a class that would enjoy seeing ...”
“Perfect!” I said. She led the way down the hall, and Alex and I
followed. Then Alex stopped short in front of another door. “C’mon,
girl,” I said, tugging on her leash. But my normally obedient dog
wouldn’t budge. She wanted to, no, had to, enter this classroom. The
teacher asked the class if they’d like to meet Alex. Then she waved us
in. It was a small class, maybe ten kids. “Hi, everyone,” I said.
“This is Alex. ...”
Before I could finish, Alex made a beeline for a boy who was sitting
on the carpet, his head down. She snuggled up to him and put her chin
on his shoulder. The boy quietly put his arm around her.
I read a story to the kids. With each turn of the page, I caught a
glimpse of the boy stroking Alex’s coat. She never left his side.
That’s funny, I thought. Usually Alex makes her rounds and visits with
all the kids. After we said our good-byes, the teacher walked over.
“May I please speak to you in the hallway?”
“Of course,” I said, following her.
“I know you have a schedule, but could Alex visit us each week too?”
“We’d love to,” I said. Then I saw tears in her eyes.
“Did I say something wrong?”
She shook her head and pointed to the little boy. “He’s been depressed
for months. We’ve tried everything, and we just can’t break through to
him. But it looks like Alex has.”
Alex and I kept going back to that classroom. Each week that little
boy brightened a bit more. Today he’s a happy fifth grader, who still
gets visits from Alex and me. Who could’ve known Alex would make such
a big difference in a child’s life? But that’s what happens sometimes,
isn’t it? We ask God to give us opportunities to help, and He leads us
to where we’re needed. Or rather, He led my dog.


There was no name attached.