Contributing writer

By Lori Shaw*

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 months. She stopped at our usual classroom. I straightened her bright-red scarf and opened the door. But there were no kids. Just the teacher. That’s odd, I thought.

Alex, the therapy dog. (Photo courtesy of Lori Shaw)

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. Her attentive amber eyes could melt the hardest of hearts, and her cuddling skills were unmatched. She 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 to encourage folks to read, it sounded perfect. Alex loved kids. I signed her up.

Our assignment was the local elementary school. From our very first visit, the kids bonded to Alex. Every time we came back, the students couldn’t wait to sit with Alex and read with her.

But that day, with our regular class missing, I wondered if we could help. I worried about Alex. She needed to do her therapy work.

“I’m so sorry,” said the teacher. “I forgot to call you. The kids are out working on a project today.”

Alex sat next to me and whined. “Is there another class we can visit?” I asked.

The teacher thought for a moment. “There’s 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. The scheduled teacher said it was OK and that she would ask the class if they would like a story read with Alex visiting.

The teacher inside 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 one boy who was sitting on the carpet, his head down. She snuggled close to him and put her head on his shoulder.

The boy quietly put his arm around her.

I read a story to the kids and, with each turn of the page, I caught a glimpse of the boy stroking Alex’s smooth 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 goodbyes to the class, the teacher walked over. “May I please speak to you in the hallway?” Her tone was serious.

“Of course,” I said, following her. What had I done?

“I know you have a schedule, but do you think Alex could 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 little more. Today he’s a happy fifth grader who still gets visits from Alex and me. Who could have known that 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.

* Lori Shaw is from Farwell, Michigan. Her story with Alex is published in Therapy Dogs International‘s web site.