Incredible Ways God Uses Dogs to Rescue By Marion Wells l Pet Lovers l Pet Inspiration l Pet Guidance

Are dogs a gift from God and a means of his rescue? M.R. Wells, author of Dogs to the Rescue, says yes. Meet eight dogs from the book that each illustrate a facet of God’s rescue in the way they’ve loved and helped others.

M.R. (Marion) Wells has coauthored five previous devotional books for pet lovers. She has also written extensively for children's television and video programming, including several Disney shows, the animated PBS series Adventures from The Book of Virtues, and the action video series Bibleman. She shares her Southern California home with the puppies and kitties she adores: Becca, Marley, Mica, Bo, and Bonbon.

photo by thomasandvelophotography.com

God's Rescue Warns

He sent his prophets to warn his people, and he gave Juno to the family of a boy with a rare, progressive ailment called Sanfilippo syndrome. Finding the dog at a shelter was an answer to prayer. She and young Lucas connected instantly, but she’d had no service dog training, and dad Chester thought he’d give Juno a month to just settle in. Two weeks later they were watching TV when the dog began circling the child’s wheelchair. She whined, nudged Lucas, and then paced between him and his parents. Realizing something was amiss, Chester checked his son’s oxygen level. It was in the danger zone. Then the boy began having a seizure. Juno had sensed trouble and warned them beforehand and still does.

God's Rescue Encourages

Psalm 10 says he listens to and encourages the afflicted. Honey and her human, Elizabeth, listen and encourage too, in their work with the R.E.A.D Program (Reading Education Assistance Dogs). They visit libraries and classrooms and let kids read to Honey, including some special needs youngsters. One autistic child started out being terrified of Honey. But over time, he warmed up to the dog, and eventually told her, “I love you Honey.” He had never spoken a sentence before to anyone! Elizabeth believes God put her there, and it’s a highlight of her life, as well as a huge encouragement to her. Health issues forced her to retire early, but she feels closer to God knowing she and Honey can help others.

God's Rescue Endures Rejection

Jesus suffered enormous rejection, but he endured it and persisted in love. Nugget did the same. His adoptive family adored him, but an ailing elderly relative who came to live with them had a very different response. She’d been bitten by a big dog years before, and she was terrified of all dogs, even friendly little Nugget. He had to be confined to two rooms of the house so she felt comfortable. But he was loving and kind to her, and in time he became entertainment and even a comfort to her. She reached the point where she couldn’t get out of bed alone, and his special friendly bark announcing the caregiver, who had a key, put her mind at ease. Much later, when she entered a nursing home, the one photo she requested was a picture of Nugget.