Some of Zinnia’s most loyal and appreciate admirers are the tellers at our local bank branch. Usually, we pull up in the drive-through, and when they see Zinnia in the camera, they send biscuits out to the car in envelopes.

They always ask for her and remind me it’s okay to bring her in once in a while. They re all passionate dog lovers. One wants to bring her kids in to meet Zinnia one morning.

Today the ATM was not working, so I went into the bank to get some money, and I brought Zinnia. It was a great lovefest. They were all busy, so I just picked her up and put her on the counter, and she sat there happily and got some hugs and treats.

Zinnia is broadening my definition of a therapy dog; we don’t just have to go to the Mansion or Bishop Maginn High School. In our tense and fragmented world,  a  lot of people could use a lift or a smile.

I was touched when I saw how much it meant to these very good and hard-working people to see and hug a dog for a minute. One of them even remembered to say hi to me.

Zinnia is my Minister of Love; she may get spoiled rotten with all the attention she gets, I think of her as a Painter of Joy.

She paints smiles on people’s faces wherever she goes. I think we all recognize that we need that. I wish Zinnia could go to Washington and join the proceedings there.

Some of those people might remember to smile and be gentle with one another.