There has been such a great response from the students that more volunteers and more therapy certified dogs are needed. A therapy certified dog is trained to provide affection and comfort to people in schools, hospitals and other environments. The most important characteristic of a therapy dog is its temperament. A good therapy dog must be friendly, patient, confident, gentle and at ease in all situations. A therapy dog’s primary job is to allow unfamiliar people to make physical contact with it and to enjoy that contact.

The “Reading to a Dog” program is of course, geared toward helping the children. But there are benefits for handlers, too. It gives volunteers an opportunity to give back to the community. By helping children become better readers, volunteers are helping them to become better students, and in the future, more productive citizens.

Should you have an interest in being part of this program or have a certified therapy dog that is available to participate, please contact Harriet Spencer at 828-894-7093 or Michelle Ledbetter, volunteer coordinator at Foothills Humane Society at 828-863-4444.

– article submitted by Joyce Cox