When Wellington counsellor Michal Horton first met a therapy dog in hospital, she had no idea that moment would change her life.
After a routine heart surgery went terribly wrong, Michal spent weeks in ICU fighting sepsis and multi-organ failure. During her time in ICU, she met Arlo, a therapy dog who brought her a brief but powerful sense of peace amid fear and confusion. “It was transformative,” she remembers. “I was scared I might never move again. But that simple moment of connection stayed with me.”
Months later, as she regained strength and began to rebuild her life, Michal contacted Mobility Dogs. Despite doubts about her eligibility, she was accepted — and soon after, Gracie, a beautiful Golden Retriever, became her new companion and lifeline.
Confidence, calm, and companionship
Before Gracie came along, even leaving the house was an ordeal. Michal’s anxiety about falling or being injured again was overwhelming. “I would constantly look behind myself, afraid of scooters or bikes on the footpath,” she says. “Since having Gracie, that behaviour has greatly improved. She makes me visible — people see her and they give us space.”
Together, Michal and Gracie have created a daily rhythm that balances care, work, and companionship. Gracie accompanies her to medical appointments, the local café, and even therapy sessions with clients, where she brings comfort and calm to everyone she meets.
“She is wonderfully sensitive to my mood and to the moods of my clients,” Michal says. “She’s a calm and loving presence when people need that most.”
Giving back — full circle
One of the most meaningful parts of Michal’s week is volunteering with Gracie in the ICU and High Dependency Unit at Wellington Hospital — the very place where Michal once lay recovering.
“It feels like I’ve come full circle,” she says. “It’s wonderful to give something back to the staff who saved my life.”
The response from staff, patients, and families is extraordinary. Nurses light up when they see Gracie. “One day, a nurse hugged her and said she’d been waiting to see her because it had been such a hard morning,” Michal recalls. “After seeing Gracie, she said things were already better.”
A daily gift
To Michal’s family, Gracie is more than a working dog — she’s a beloved member of the family. Her husband, initially unsure about having a dog, is now one of Gracie’s biggest fans. Gracie is gentle with the grandchildren, intuitive with emotions, and brings joy to everyone she meets.
When asked what Gracie means to her, Michal’s answer is simple:
“Gracie has given me the confidence to move back out into the community and to know I can continue to live a full and meaningful life in spite of the restrictions imposed by my health.”
A message to our supporters
“Gracie is a very precious gift to me and my family. I want donors to know that she brings a smile every day — not just to us, but to complete strangers who might see her for only a fleeting moment. Thank you for making this possible.”
💚 Thanks to supporters like you, partnerships like Michal and Gracie’s are possible — creating independence, confidence, and connection for people across Aotearoa.