Colt, the Service Dog
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a story about an amazing dog.
This is National Assistance Dog Week, and you know what, we’re celebrating the wonderful companions that help people with disabilities day in and day out — like Janaye. Growing up, Janaye loved the outdoors, whether it was kayaking, or archery, or even going sky diving with friends. But one day, she experienced a terrible fall and struck her head. Someone called the ambulance, and they rushed her into the operating room for brain surgery. Janaye survived the surgical procedure, but the recovery involved months and months of rehab. What’s more, the traumatic brain injury left her with muscle weakness, seizures, and fainting spells. At any moment, Janaye’s seizures can cause her to fall and re-injure her head. And that would be a terrible thing. I mean it can happen at the supermarket, it could happen at home, and it’s just downright dangerous for someone like Janaye who has already experienced a brain injury.
But thankfully, she has Colt, that’s what she calls her service dog. Colt is a Weimaraner/English Labrador who was hand-picked and uniquely trained to meet Janaye’s needs. Now, I know what you’re thinking: how can a dog tell when someone is going to have a seizure? Well, it’s true. Colt has been trained to immediately identify when Janaye is about to have a fainting spell or seizure. And right away, he carefully positions himself flat on the ground right next to her, to protect Janaye from hurting her head should she fall. Once he knows Janaye’s seizures have stopped, Colt will lick her hand and face to try to wake her up. Colt has even been trained to hear her heartbeat, reach for Janaye’s medications, turn on lights, and helps with grocery shopping. This dog even opens doors and helps to pick up after himself! I can’t believe that, but that’s what she says. Now that’s an amazing service dog! And when he’s not at work helping Janaye with her care, his harness goes off and, like any good ol’ dog, Colt bolts out the door to play!
You know, in Genesis 1:25, it says that when God created animals, he declared their creation to be “good.” Plus, the Bible makes it clear that God can communicate with animals, such as He did on Noah’s Ark, or with Elijah and those birds that fed him. And look at Balaam’s donkey, right? These examples don’t tell us that God is in regular communication with animals, but it’s plausible that God interacts with animals much more than we realize. The Bible also declares that God enjoys animals. In Psalm 104, the psalmist says, “Let the Lord be glad in his works.” Now, sure that verse speaks broadly of all that God has created, but it follows with a lengthy description of God’s interaction with animals—everything from wild goats and other animals small and significant. In Psalm 148, the psalmist called on everything to praise the Lord, and He includes beasts, cattle, and I’m sure, dogs like Colt. Don’t you think that’s fun? It’s great to know that your pet is not only an animal that God enjoys, but in a way we can’t understand, a dog like Colt responds to God’s call in Psalm 148; somehow, some way animals praise the Lord.
Friend, you must meet Colt, Janaye’s service dog. So take a minute to visit joniradio.org to watch a video of Colt hard at work. While you’re there, download an information sheet about service animals. And don’t forget to post a photo of your favorite service dog on our Joni and Friends’ Facebook page or Twitter. Hey, join the animals today, animals like Colt, and praise the Lord. Thanks for listening today on Joni and Friends.
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