Chad's delight is reflected in his parents' faces. They brighten his day. He has every picture Nancy has ever taken of him with Corey. A MATH WHIZ Nancy takes a Polaroid of Chad and Corey, and before they leave, Chad asks if he can give Molly , also a Golden Retriever , a math problem. If it made the children laugh and play to see a lamb at school, think of what it can do for bedridden children to witness a four-legged math whiz.
Therapy dogs do more than bring smiles and respite from the hospital routine.
Suzanne Chesney recalled a young girl who had been in an auto accident. Despite intensive therapy to awaken her, the child remained in a semi-coma. Her mom told me that before the accident, she'd taken the girl to the pet store every day, so I decided to take a dog in to her. On that very first day, she opened her eyes. Whenever I had access to a dog, I would bring it to her room.