A note of heartfelt thanks for a four-legged hero

“There are some heroes who wear capes, and then there are some who walk quietly on four paws.”

During the last two years, the children at Lewis & Clark Elementary in Tulsa, OK, have experienced the calming presence and emotional security of a true hero when K-9 Comfort Dog Persis (Christ The Redeemer - Tulsa, OK) visits the young students. But this hero is not your typical cape-wearing variety. 

Persis spends two hours every Monday with a small group of children, letting them pet her soft fur, stroke her neck and lean into her calming presence. Some just lay with her, others read stories to Persis.

For many of the little ones, this is just what they need, as they are facing challenges in their lives that small children should not have to shoulder—not knowing when they’ll see a parent again, wondering where their next meal will come from, or confusion about the instability in their lives.

The children and especially first-grade teacher Mrs. Porter are beyond grateful for the comfort Persis brings, and they expressed their heartfelt thanks in a beautiful letter sent to this furry hero.

“Your calm presence gives them a safe place in a world that often does not feel safe,” the letter said. “You ask nothing from them. You do not judge their clothes, their sadness, their anger, or their trauma. You simply love them, and when they pet your fur, hug your neck or sit quietly beside you, they are finding comfort, connection, and peace.”

Persis has been a K-9 Comfort Dog for five years, providing the type of therapy that comes from a soft hug or gentle nuzzle.

“For children who have experienced trauma, human trust can feel fragile. But animals like you help bridge that gap. Positive interactions with therapy dogs can lower stress and help children feel safer, calmer, and more emotionally secure,” Mrs. Porter said in the letter.

Mrs. Porter noted that for a few precious moments, these children who have experienced more than they should were able to simply be children again. 

“You are more than a therapy dog. You are comfort after chaos. You are safety after fear. You are joy in the middle of heartbreak. You are proof that gentleness still exists in the world.”
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Persis is accompanied on her trips on a rotating basis by handlers Lori Knoetfel, Rick McWilliams, and Diane Fager, as well as by ministry partners Terry Brown, Frankie Brown, and Jenny Wendelbo. She is based out of Christ the Redeemer Church in Tulsa, OK.

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