By Katie Coleman [1]
BELLEVILLE – Exam stress is being soothed by the St. John’s Ambulance therapy dogs again at Loyalist College [2].
Buffy, Blazer, Layla, and Bella were there for the final shift of the day on Monday. This is the program’s second year at Loyalist. Many of the dogs and owners were there last year as well.
Judy Vanleeuwen, Buffy’s owner, has done therapy dog work for eight years but mainly with senior citizens. She says the therapy dog program at Loyalist is a great thing.
“For any person, no matter the age, a dog is something they can trust,” Vanleeuwen said. “If they don’t like talking to people they’ll talk to dogs.”
She says she and Buffy hope to continue to visit the college in the future.
The therapy dogs will be on campus next on Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Katy Burley [3] gives you an audio version of Judy Vanleeuwen’s story here:
http://www.qnetnews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/therapy-dogs.mp3 [4]