24 • APRIL 2021
Max’s MissionMistie Desper“Max is here! Max is here!” can be heard throughoutthe Mustard Seed as Kathy Lewis and therapy dog,Max, enter for their weekly meetings. Max, a lab mix,has left his pawprints on so many hearts throughout thecommunity starting with Kathy’s.Kathy, an avid animal lover since she was a younggirl, has worked closely with local animal shelters since2008. To date, she has fostered and cared for more than200 puppies. She joked that she was “St. Francis of Assisi[patron saint of animals]” because of her huge heart to bean advocate for these animals.Max came into her life at a time when she hadstruggled with the adoption of one special animal shecared for. As she fosters and trains puppies, she said,“They all have their own personalities and my job is totrain them, do home checks of potential adopters, andmake sure they match well.” Before Max, Kathy hadtrained a very special dog that she desired to keep forherself and begin therapy services with. However, whenthe interested adoption family had an instant bond withhim, Kathy knew it was the right choice to let him beadopted. She said, “God knows exactly where thesepuppies should be.”Her calling into providing animal therapy serviceswas stronger than ever when a young pup entered herlife and changed everything. Kathy instantly knew hewas different. She explains, “His demeanor was so kind.You could just see it in his eyes.” Little did she know theimpact Max would have on her and all the lives hewould eventually touch.Former rescuer, friend, and therapy animal trainerwith Dawgone Fun Therapy, Cindy Metzger, helped Kathyget Max started with therapy training. He breezed throughtraining and earned the Canine Good Citizenship Awardfrom the American Kennel Club. When he took his therapytraining test, Kathy said, “He was just meant to do this.”Soon, Max was spreading cheer throughout thecommunity. He and Kathy spent one summer at a localbookstore where families would bring in their childrenfor readings. “The children love him and are drawn rightto him,” she said.That same summer, Max spent time at theMississippi Natural Science Museum in their “Wolfto Woof: The Story of Dogs” program for children. Maxloved all of them so much and was such a natural withthem adding to the overall exhibit which showcased thenatural bond between humans and canines. Kathy added,“He would just lay there and let them do whatever theywanted. He is a people pleaser.”In addition, Max made his rounds to local nursinghomes. The residents loved when he would visit. Kathysaid, “You could hear them call him to their rooms assoon as we’d walk in.”Max’s keen senses were becoming more evident.Kathy explained that he showed signs of instincts thatshe had never seen in all her years of training animals.He began therapy services for The Mustard Seed,Little Lighthouse, and Caring Hands. The residents andstudents would light up each time he came through thedoor. His presence helped their reading program as theyalways wanted to sit and read to him.Kathy recalled, “Many children at Caring Handshave disabilities where they would often sit on the floor.Max was never taught this but he would lay down andbelly crawl to them. He just instinctively knew to get ontheir level.”Max and Kathy were regulars at The Mustard Seedwhen the coronavirus pandemic crippled the communitylast year. The routines and schedules of the residents’lives had been disrupted which are very important toanyone with special needs. To help alleviate some ofthe stress, Kathy brought Max for “house calls anddriveway visits” to anyone who wanted one.Regarding those first face-to-face visits during theuncertainty of the pandemic, Kathy stated, “During thosefirst weeks of the pandemic, everyone was scared but Iknew God was watching and would keep up safe.” Sheexplained that she would take Max to visit with them intheir driveways or she’d just sit on the porch so theycould love on him.Max also kept active on many zoom calls and in drivebyparades. The nursing home wouldn’t allow his visitsduring this time so Kathy made sure his friends knewthey were being thought of by sending pictures of Maxwith “I miss you” messages in hopes to brighten their day.Kathy has seen firsthand the joy and happiness thatMax has brought the local community. Max, now 9 yearsold, is back with his Mustard Seed family for outdoorvisits and hopes to be back with his nursing home friendsvery soon as well.Kathy’s heart for fostering and sharing Max withothers has changed the lives of so many people and giventhem something to look forward to each and everyweek. They plan to continue sharing love and joy in ourcommunity. Kathy, who is now a therapy animal testerherself, shared that “God has put me on this mission”to serve others with therapy animals. The pair hope toreunite with all of their special friends and continuetheir calling.Hometown RANKIN • 25