Parishioners at Weisenberg Lutheran Church in New Tripoli are getting accustomed to Hank joining them for a Sunday morning services.

It's a welcoming congregation – even for dogs.

Hank is a chocolate lab belonging to Carolee Smith of New Tripoli, and he's training to become a Therapy Dog.

Going to church is one way to socialize him, said Smith.

When Hank turns 1, he will be tested for basic obedience skills, tolerance for noises, and basic friendliness.

At that point, Hank will work to fill the big "paw prints" left behind when Smith's first Therapy Dog, Dutch, died.

Smith called Dutch, also a chocolate lab, a once-in-a-lifetime dog.

Although Dutch spent most of his time as a farm dog, digging in the dirt, chasing cats and horses, and frolicking with Smith's sons, Jacob and Carter, he transitioned well into the role of a Therapy Dog.

Smith began volunteering at Lehigh Valley Hospice in 2007 when her grandmother, Roma S. Kressley, of Germansville was a patient.

Dutch, who was always ready to go for a ride in the car, joined Smith and they quickly became an official Lehigh Valley Hospice Pet Therapy Team.

Dutch touched many lives as a therapy dog.

His unconditional love comforted family members and friends, and brought smiles to all with whom he came in contact.

Sadly, in July 2014, Dutch was diagnosed with cancer and died in October 2014.

All who knew him, church members, delivery people, and friends mourned his loss.

Smith, devastated by the loss of her companion, "had to get another puppy."

Even Smith's other dog, Zeke, a 120-pound Newfoundland, seemed sad, she said.

Smith searched the Greenfield Puppies site and was drawn to Cocoa, but a phone call revealed Cocoa was already promised.

Although there were other chocolate labs, she couldn't get Cocoa's eyes out of her mind.

Several days later, a message from Greenfield told her Cocoa's presumed owners never showed up.

Within two hours, she was in Lancaster to pick up Cocoa.

"It was meant to be," she said. Cocoa, re-named Hank, adapted quickly to his new home in New Tripoli.

Smith calls Hank "a natural."

A recent visit to the Lutheran Home at Topton was very impressive, she said.

He did well with wheelchairs and the attention from patients, visitors and nurses.

"Dogs make people of any age happy," Smith said.

A visit to the Lehigh Valley hospice unit proved that point as staff, visitors, and patients stopped to pet the dog and chat with Smith.

They couldn't help but notice the similarity between Hank and the dog depicted in the impressive portrait that hangs on the wall in the waiting room area.

The dog in the portrait is Dutch.

In January 2014, artist Marion Sheinberg, of Macungie, was touched by a story about the hospice work done by Carolee and Dutch, and offered to paint a portrait of Dutch.

It was gifted to the Lehigh Valley Hospice Inpatient Unit in memory of Marion's parents and in honor of Dutch.

Smith had it framed in an antique frame, fitting for the portrait.

"I am honored to have Dutch's portrait (and spirit) watching over the Lehigh Valley Hospice Inpatient Unit," Smith said.

And it is obvious, she also is honored to have Hank on his way to following in Dutch's paw prints.