Last month at a medical clinic waiting room in Richmond, Virginia. A nine-year-old boy named Cole, sensitive to noise and crowds, became overwhelmed by the waiting room. Sat rocking in his chair.
Hands over ears. His grandmother beside him couldn't reach him. Then a man named Frank, 67, sitting nearby quietly unclipped his Golden Retriever's leash.
The dog's name is Sunny. Frank's anxiety support dog for four years. Frank said one word quietly. Sunny walked straight to Cole and pressed against him. Cole's hands came down from his ears. He gripped Sunny's fur. The rocking stopped. Cole's grandmother looked at Frank through tears. Frank told her: "Sunny knew. He always knows when someone needs him more than I do right now." Sunny's training said help one person. His instinct said help whoever needs it most.