It's All About The Dog: Using a Therapy Dog in the School Setting

Years ago, a colleague came up with the novel idea of bringing my dog to school to work with students with emotional issues. Since then this one dog has touched many people and has prompted other programs to add a therapy dog to their staff. My book explores my personal experiences working with a therapy dog in three different school settings over a 7-year period. The therapy dog program involves using dog and handler teams that have been certified through Therapy Dogs International (TDI). Animal assisted therapy is a nontraditional method for working with regular and special education students in a variety of programs. This research project involved the work of many individuals. I have been blessed to work with many outstanding people throughout my career who have been willing to think outside of the box and support such a nontraditional idea. This book is a must read for educators, therapists, and animal lovers and sends a message about the climate of our schools and connecting with our youth.