Addison Strychalsky, 2, of Newtown, Conn., pets Libby, a golden retriever therapy dog, during a visit from the dogs and their handlers to a memorial for the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims in Newtown Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012. Psychiatrists say after the grief and fear fades, most of Newtown's young survivors probably will cope without long-term emotional problems, often through play. Among the challenges will be spotting which children are struggling enough that they may need professional help. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Audio File and Photos at: http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2013-05-02/comfort-dogs
Comfort Dogs
Service and therapy dogs perform lifesaving jobs every day. They sniff out bombs, find people buried in avalanches and guide blind people across the street. Now another type of work is aiding humans. Comfort dogs come to the emotional rescue of people suffering in the aftermath of disasters or battling the difficulties of daily life. Their job has taken them to Newtown, Conn., Boston and West, Texas. A panel of experts joins Diane to talk about the differences between service dogs and therapy dogs, companion dogs, assistance dogs and all other working dogs. They discuss how to determine the best dog for a job, how they are trained and the benefits for both the human and canine species.
Guests
Brian Hare
professor of evolutionary anthropology, director of the Duke Canine Cognition Center, co-author of "The Genius of Dogs" and co-founder of Dognition.
Amy McCullough
director of animal-assisted therapy at the American Humane Association.
Paul Mundell
national director of canine programs at Canine Companions for Independence.
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Photos: From Newtown To Boston, Therapy Dogs Provide Comfort
Groups like Canine Companions for Independence and the American Humane Association's animal-assisted therapy teams brought comfort and healing to the streets of Boston after last month's twin bombing. Comfort dogs also helped Newtown, Conn., residents cope after a mass shooting in December 2012. Today, in addition to responding to national events and comforting hospital patients, these organizations help returning veterans and their military families cope with the impacts of service.
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