FI MessiahLifeways UnscriptedMagazine Spring2025 - Flipbook - Page 48
RESCUING
COLLIES:
CREATING
CONNECTIONS
G
leeful grins are a common greeting when
Virginia Johnson walks into a room—always
with a sweet-dispositioned collie or two by her side.
“They go wherever I go,” said Virginia, who has rescued
and trained collies to be therapy dogs for more than
30 years. “And they tend to light up a room.”
Currently, she has five rescues at home—one
rambunctious puppy in training, two dogs with visual
and hearing impairments that prefer the predictable
comfort of home, and two veteran therapy dogs with
hundreds of combined hours of volunteer service.
Virginia and her dogs have given the gift of time in
schools, hospital settings, nursing homes, and nearly
In various moments throughout her life, Virginia has
every people-filled place in between.
witnessed her dogs be a bridge to human connection.
Several months ago, she began volunteering in a
memory care neighborhood at Messiah Village with
Spring and Autumn—her two therapy dogs—and the
trio is eager to become more frequent regulars.
Virginia, now in her 70s, retired several years ago
and has chosen to invest her newfound time in others.
At least once a week she is filled up by getting out
into her community, engaging with old friends and
soon-to-be new friends with her dogs.
“People can become so inward that they forget about
others. They forget the impact that doing something
for someone else can have,” Virginia said. “But people
need other people—myself included.”
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She’s seen their innate ability to create spaces for
interaction, sparking moments of shared joy and
fostering bonds between people.
Virginia’s dogs are not only providing companionship
to residents with cognitive challenges at Messiah
Village, but they also help break down barriers,
allowing those who may feel isolated or withdrawn
to feel seen and engaged.
“The dogs just know,” Virginia says. “They have a
remarkable ability to sense when someone needs a
little extra attention, and I often find myself following
their lead as they offer joy and healing in ways words
alone can’t always express.”
