Molly PavlovichGleeful 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 every people-filled place in between.
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.”
In various moments throughout her life, Virginia has witnessed her dogs be a bridge to human connection. 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challenges at Messiah Village, but they also help break down barriers, allowing those who may feel isolated or withdrawn to feel seen and engaged.
“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.”
Click here to read the full, digital version of Spring 2025 Unscripted Magazine.
