April 26, 2025: The Tiny Healer

Uh-oh, here comes a dog.

When my daughter was little, she had an extreme fear of dogs. Even the sight of one nearby made her jump into my arms with a death squeeze.

We never understood what caused this anxiety and tried everything to help. But nothing worked.

Then her grandmother got a puppy. A dachshund with brown eyes and floppy ears.

She called her, “Winnie McKenzie Grey,” placing her granddaughter’s name right in the middle. She believed naming the phobia — and giving it a sweet face — might bring a breakthrough.

Gradually, a miracle unfolded. That small weiner pup changed McKenzie.

At first, when Winnie walked close, my daughter sat stiffly. But as time passed, the ice melted. One day she nervously reached out to rub the silky fur, and eventually… there was no more fear. Just love.

Fast forward to the present, and our family has owned a couple of dogs. McKenzie is now one of the biggest pet lovers you’ll ever meet, pouring her affection into our Golden Retriever.

I thought about that experience recently while watching the show, The Last of Us. There’s a line where a character utters, “You can’t heal something unless you’re brave enough to say it out loud.”

For McKenzie, bravery came in the form of a tender brown dog who carried her name.

Three weeks ago, we had to say goodbye to Winnie, who crossed the Rainbow Bridge after a long and loving life. She touched so many people, especially one little girl, who’s now all grown up.

And somewhere, I imagine Winnie McKenzie's tiny tail is still wagging at her handiwork.