Therapy dogs require attention

Therapy dogs are an asset and beneficial in all settings, hospitals, care centers, schools, libraries and other facilities.

However, since the television news coverage and newspaper article featuring professional therapy dogs purchased to work in local schools, this has raised concerns among trained and certified therapy dog handlers ('Therapy dogs help motivate at College Community Schools,” Aug. 24).

I have begun to receive inquiries from teachers asking how to get their 'own” dog certified to go to school with them.

I have spent four years with my therapy dog, either visiting special needs classes and working as a team for R.E.A.D. (reading education assistance dog) in several schools.

It's not easy to keep control of students and then add a dog to the mix. Dogs are not to be expected to work longer than 2 hours maximum on a given day. Dogs get stressed and tired just like humans.

I think it would be very difficult for a teacher to be the handler of the therapy dog and have the dog at school for entire school day.

Students need to have the undivided attention of the teacher. The therapy dog needs to have the undivided attention of the handler. Not sure how this can be accomplished in a classroom setting if the handler is also the teacher. No matter how well trained a dog is, accidents will and do happen. A therapy dog should be on a leash, students and dog should be supervised at all times.

Janet Holtman

President, Corridor Therapy Dogs

Cedar Rapids