Dempsey the Angel Dog: A True Story of Service, Love, and a Legacy That Lives On

Some dogs come into our lives as companions. Others come with a job to do. And some, like Dempsey, leave a legacy that continues long after they are gone.

In her new children’s book, Dempsey the Angel Dog, author Susan Aune introduces young readers to a lovable chocolate Labrador Retriever who serves as a mobility assistance dog. But what makes Dempsey’s story particularly special is that Dempsey was real.

Behind this gentle children’s story is the true relationship between Dempsey and the young man he served, known as Tom in the book. Their story is one of service and independence, but also friendship, courage, loss, and the remarkable bond that can develop between a person and a service dog.

A Service Dog With an Important Job

Told from Dempsey’s point of view, Dempsey the Angel Dog gives children a glimpse into the important work performed by service dogs every day.

Through Dempsey, young readers learn why service dogs wear special vests, how they assist people with disabilities, and why it is important to respect a working service dog and the person the dog assists.

But Susan’s story goes beyond explaining what a service dog does.

At its heart, this is a book about kindness, inclusion, compassion, and love.

Dempsey is proud of his work and devoted to Tom. Together, they show children that needing help does not diminish a person’s independence or strength—and that helping someone else can be one of the most meaningful jobs of all.

The True Story Behind Dempsey

Dempsey’s journey eventually presented him with a challenge of his own.

In 2021, Dempsey underwent pacemaker surgery for a heart condition. Around that same time, Susan Aune was working on her book Better Together: Celebrating Service Dog Teams and invited Dempsey and his owner to be part of it.

Tom was able to share their story while Dempsey was recovering and working his way back following his surgery.

Dempsey passed away in 2022, not long after Tom received the finished book.

Then, several years later, Susan reached out again.

This time, she had another idea.

She wanted to tell Dempsey’s story to children.

That idea eventually became Dempsey the Angel Dog.

The book follows Dempsey’s journey from puppyhood to becoming a service dog matched with a young man who needs his assistance. It follows the work they do together, Dempsey’s own heart condition, his passing, and the arrival of the successor service dog who continues the important work Dempsey began.

Names and some details have been changed for the children’s story, but at its heart, Dempsey is still Dempsey.

And for the person who loved him, that means more than simply seeing his dog become the subject of a book.

“As Long as a Person or a Pet’s Name Is Spoken, They’re Never Truly Forgotten”

When Tom saw what Susan had created, he shared a beautiful reflection about what the book meant to him.

Five years earlier, he explained, Susan had invited him and Dempsey to participate in a book about service dog teams shortly after Dempsey’s pacemaker surgery. He was grateful to have the opportunity to tell their story while Dempsey was still with him.

Years later, Susan came back into his life with the idea for a children’s book.

Now Dempsey’s story would reach an entirely new generation.

Tom summed up what that means to him with a sentiment that captures the heart of this book:

“I truly believe that as long as a person or a pet’s name is spoken, they’re never truly forgotten.”

Because of this book, he said, Dempsey’s name will continue to be spoken by children for years to come.

For Tom, that is a gift.

And he had a simple message for the author who made it possible:

“Thank you, Susan, for giving him the honor.”

Helping Children Understand Service Dogs—and So Much More

While Dempsey the Angel Dog introduces children to service dogs, its lessons reach far beyond that subject.

Dempsey's story can help parents, grandparents, teachers, librarians, and caregivers begin conversations with children about disabilities and inclusion. It can help children understand why a service dog is working even when that work might not be immediately visible.

The story also gently approaches something almost every child will eventually experience: saying goodbye to someone—or some beloved animal—they love.

Rather than ending Dempsey’s story with his passing, Susan allows his love and influence to continue. Dempsey watches over Tom and welcomes the next service dog who will carry on the work he once performed.

It is a reassuring reminder that love does not simply disappear when someone we love is no longer physically beside us.

Their influence remains.

Their stories remain.

And, as Tom so beautifully expressed, their names can continue to be spoken.

About Author Susan Aune

Susan Aune is the author of Better Together: Celebrating Service Dog Teams and Dempsey the Angel Dog, two books inspired by assistance dogs and the extraordinary relationships they share with people.

A retired public health nurse, Susan brings a background in psychology and public health nursing to her writing, along with years of experience training people to work with their horses and dogs.

She is also a lifelong dog lover and photography enthusiast. Susan enjoys gardening, horseback riding on scenic trails, training her dogs in agility and nosework, and photographing the natural world around her.

Susan lives in St. Cloud, Minnesota, where she continues to combine her love of animals, nature, photography, and storytelling.

A Little Dog With a Story Worth Remembering

For children, Dempsey the Angel Dog is a heartwarming story about a very special dog.

For adults, it may be something more.

It is a reminder of the animals who walk beside us, help us, teach us, and sometimes change our lives in ways we never expected.

Dempsey had an important job during his lifetime. He helped one person navigate the world with greater independence and companionship.

Now he has another job.

Through Susan Aune’s book, Dempsey can help children understand service dogs, disabilities, kindness, compassion, courage, grief, and unconditional love.

Most importantly, a real dog who meant the world to someone gets to have his story told again and again.

Dempsey’s name is still being spoken.

And now a new generation of children will know it.

Dempsey the Angel Dog by Susan Aune

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-968428-43-3

Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-968428-44-0

Published by Kirk House Publishers.