TESTIMONY
Every dog has its day Sue MacDonald shares how a visit from a therapy dog introduced her to the Army and changed her life
M
Y father and I were visiting my mother in hospital, and the nurse asked us if we liked dogs. We said yes, and in walked Evie, a therapy dog, with her owner, Major Alexandra Hughes. Being in hospital was making my mother unhappy but Evie brought smiles to Mum’s face as she stroked her. Alexandra mentioned that she was a retired Salvation Army officer who worshipped at Bognor Regis Corps and that, as part of her Christian ministry in Chichester, she did therapy visits with Evie. My mother lived with dementia but amazingly was able to relate her experiences during the Second World War to Alexandra.
A bomb was dropped on her family’s road in Egham, Surrey, and everyone had to get out of their houses. The Salvation Army took in all nine family members and gave them clothes, food, drink and anything else they needed. They did this for the whole street, and everyone was so grateful. They never Evie at Bognor Regis Corps with National Therapy Dog forgot the Army’s of the Year runner-up rosette kindness. I’m the type of person who likes to We saw Alexandra and Evie twice help people, so I thought this was the more at the hospital and we talked place I needed to be. Alexandra also again about The Salvation Army and invited me to the pop-up choir led by the Christian faith. Evie greatly corps officer Major Sarah Butler. cheered my mother up and enjoyed I started attending most of the worship a lot of fuss too. meetings and a To Serve course. On Sadly, Mum passed away in April 23 February 2020 I was enrolled as a 2018, but I kept in touch with Alexandra soldier. It was an honour to wear my through social media and she invited Army uniform. Evie and Alexandra were me to attend her corps. I have always present at my enrolment and I am believed in God but, while I have been grateful for the day God guided them to to several churches over the years, my mum’s hospital ward. I never felt I belonged. I decided to go I have found my spiritual home and a with Alexandra to The Salvation Army deeper relationship with the Lord Jesus, and the first thing I noticed was how and my family have seen a difference friendly and welcoming everyone was. in me. I enjoyed the worship as well. Labrador Evie was one of the longestserving therapy dogs in the UK and touched many people’s lives, visiting hospitals, nursing homes and schools for children with special needs, and helping adults with learning difficulties and those living with dementia. She died in January this year, aged 13. Evie was recognised at Crufts with a special award for her work over the years and was runner-up in the National Therapy Dog of the Year awards in 2018. In 2020 she was awarded a pet hero award for alerting Alexandra to a family in distress in
the sea, which was remarkable because Evie was blind. The pair have featured on local television and radio and in the press. Their profile has created several opportunities for Alexandra to talk about the Army and her faith. ‘I always prayed that God would … make an opportunity [for me] to share my faith,’ she says, ‘and with every client I met our conversation would end with “God bless you”. A dog is non-judgemental and can be a bridge to talking about God. Just a dog some might say, but one that God used for his Kingdom.’
Sue’s enrolment Salvationist 22 May 2021
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