Harley and Harry – two therapy dogs – made a visit to the Center for Lifelong Learning in Central New Jersey earlier this month as part of an effort to assist older students with special needs, according to MyCentralJersey.com.
Joining Jennifer George, who holds an occupational therapy job with the Middlesex Regional Educational Services Commissioin, the two canines are part of the Doggone Safe program, which is operating the Choose to Help Animals that Need Care Everyday program. The dogs themselves were rescued from a local adoption center, they are recognized as American Kennel Club therapy dogs and also are certified as therapy dogs.
"The program has been in development since the school opened," George told the publication. "The vocational end of the program will begin in mid-November. Older students, who are interested, will be asked to fill out an application. They will practice tasks like cleaning water bowls, preparing dog-food bowls and petting, walking and grooming the dog. There are a lot of skills they will learn."
The skills include caring for their own dogs, walking dogs, assisting a neighbor or working at a vet's office, George said.
According to the American Kennel Club, the use of dogs to assist individuals filling occupational therapy jobs has steadily grown since the 1980s.