Grace In Newtown: One Little Dog Making A Big Difference

My dog Grace and I took a break from teaching Tails To Teach classes in Providence schools and traveled to Newtown one week after the tragedy on December 14 to spend a few days providing pet-assisted therapy (PAT) services to the grieving people of Sandy Hook. Two things I now know for sure; the human-animal bond is deeper and more powerful than even I had imagined, and being there in Sandy Hook changed me forever. 

We spent Saturday at Edmond Town Hall, where counseling sessions and a stuffed animal give-away were taking place. Grace was at her best, doing what she does best: giving unconditional love and letting children (and adults) reach out and pull her into warm, but often very shaky, embraces. And if people didn’t come to her, she went to them and put paws up on laps and shoulders – doing anything to make a connection.

I watched as she took people in with her soft brown eyes and accepted whatever they had to share – even if it was just to let their tears fall on her little head.
We met one very, very small girl with bruised-looking eyes, who wasn’t able to speak at all. She looked exhausted, scared and completely overwhelmed by the towering piles of stuffed animals at the give-away. As she walked towards us, she suddenly pulled away from her mom, knelt down in front of us, reached out to Grace, held her very close and looked into her eyes. And then, slowly, deliberately and with great tenderness, she kissed Grace on the head. About 12 times. And then she smiled. First at Grace, then up at me and her mom. And then she kissed Grace again. 
Her mom told me that was the first time she’s seen her daughter smile since sending her off to school on Friday, Dec. 14. 

On Sunday, near the school and the memorial sites, we continued to meet folks who just needed to share a few minutes with a gentle dog. Along with kids and parents, we visited with lots of police officers, firefighters and other first responders. One really big, tough-looking cop, who wiped away tears when he held Grace for the first time, kept coming back to visit with her over and over again – and every time he did, he brought different fellow officers with him, saying, “Take off your gloves and just pet this dog....” If they hesitated, Grace stood on her hind legs and put her paws and head on their chest ... just absorbing their immense sadness until they caved in, smiled and cried, and gave her a hug. I’ve never seen anything like it. 

I know that the work Tails To Teach is doing in Rhode Island schools is beginning to make a difference in the lives of animals, kids and their families and I’m so pleased to be playing my part in that “change for good.” What we’re doing –helping kids discover and practice kindness, compassion and empathy – is simply the highest and best use of whatever small gifts I have – and those of that “amazing” Grace.  

Visit www.tailstoteach.org or Tails To Teach on Facebook  

*Footnote: Grace is a former Providence, R.I., shelter dog