Lexi was a favorite of the employees and members of St. Luke United Methodist Church, where she visited twice a week to bring a little joy to everyone there. She visited the members of their quilting club, and was a hit with the kids in the congregation.At the ripe age of 11, Amy Sandy's little Lexi had already touched more lives than most. The Red Bank and North Shore communities lost a valued member when Lexi the miniature schnauzer passed away recently.
Many recognized Lexi through her acting. She played the role of Toto in multiple local productions of "The Wizard of Oz." Sandy said she was initially surprised at how well Lexi did when she first tried out for the role in 2006. After Lexi's tryout, the director came out and begged Sandy to have Lexi play the part of Toto, she said.
"She went through her first performance like she'd been onstage her whole life," said Sandy. "She remembered everything she was supposed to do and stayed with Dorothy the whole time."
For her first run as Toto, Lexi performed four times a week for six weeks. She was ultimately awarded an Annie Award for Director's Choice, the first and only animal to win the prestigious honor.
Stage life wasn't always easy for Lexi or for Sandy. Sandy recalls one day when Lexi was doing a promotion for the Chattanooga Symphony's performance of music from "The Wizard of Oz." Lexi was riding around in a pedicab with the actress playing Dorothy. Sandy was going to collect Lexi at the end of the ride. That day, though, was April 27, 2011, the day tornadoes touched down throughout Southeast Tennessee.
"I just remember being down in the basement, thinking 'Please don't let anything happen, please don't let anything happen,'" Sandy said.
Thankfully, none of the storms made contact where Lexi was riding, and she was soon reunited with her very grateful owner, and then with the stage.
After the production was over, Sandy said Lexi wasn't acting like herself. She figured the pup missed the attention of the stage.
"I mean, how do you explain to a dog that now we're done?" Sandy said.
To get the attention Lexi craved, Sandy signed her up to see if she would work well as a therapy dog at T.C. Thompson Children's Hospital. As soon as Lexi got into the hospital, it became clear she was a natural.
While working as a therapy dog, Lexi typically spent a few minutes with each child to give him or her a bit of much-needed love and affection. Sometimes, though, Lexi would stay with a particular patient for 15 minutes or more, refusing to leave his or her side.
In one particular instance, she stayed with a young man in a wheelchair for over 2o minutes before he slowly lifted his hand to pet her head. Afterward, Sandy overheard the man's physical therapist compliment him on being able to lift his hand.
"She could tell things that even we couldn't," Sandy said of Lexi. "When she did therapy, she knew who really needed her, even if it was the parents, the nurses or even the doctors."
Sandy could even swear that Lexi grinned at the hospital, which she never did elsewhere, not even onstage, she said.
Lexi also brought joy to the congregation of St. Luke United Methodist Church, where she acted as a sort of church dog. Two days a week, Lexi tagged along with Sandy while she worked at the church. The pup became a fast favorite of the workers and clubs that met there, letting anyone play with and pet her.
The congregation held a service in her honor Sept. 24.
"She would always say hello to everyone," Sandy said. "I think she left quite an impact."
Email Shane Foley at sfoley@timesfreepress.com.