Let's hear it for a dog named Boo! The 8-year-old mixed-breed Labrador retriever is a therapy dog at a Putnam County school, where he's helping kids come out of their shells.
The Journal News and Putnam County Courier highlighted the incredible story of Marc Oliviere, a six-year-old who was designated a selective mute and attends a school in Mahopac. He's part of a program for students who need help with social and learning skills, and the teacher decided to apply for a therapy dog to aid her students. And once Marc met Boo, he spoke.
April Olivere mother told the Courier: "It was so wonderful to see him so talkative and excited. He talked about petting her and how she licked him and he kissed his new friend. We are so grateful to have 'Boo-Boo' in our lives. Marc even sleeps with 'Boo-Boo's picture and he posts it on the fridge before leaving for school. It is so awesome." Other students have also benefited from Boo, gaining overall confidence, and teacher Penny Wieser said, "This is a miraculous breakthrough and this wonderful dog is the catalyst."
Boo and his trainer Lisa Edwards work with the Delta Society, which employs pets as therapy animals for schools, nursing homes, and more. New York City's ASPCA has been affiliated with Delta since 2000. If you're interested in registering your pet as a therapy animal, the ASPCA offers training classes for pets and owners before a Delta Society evaluation. The next training session is Saturday and Sunday March 29th and 30th in Manhattan.
Boo and Marc Oliviere, by Matthew Brown/The Journal News
