Cheryl Wassus is a dog handler and evaluator for TDI or Therapy Dogs International, a volunteer organization dedicated to the testing and registration of therapy dogs and their handlers. And for the last ten years of her work, she never failed to hear how people loved and needed the experience of interacting with therapy dogs.
The dogs definitely help improve people’s moods and just make them feel relaxed and secure wherever they go.
And just recently, TDI has been receiving calls from various schools requesting to be visited by therapy dogs following the recent shootings that happened at Oxford High School in Michigan. In fact, Oxford community members have already been asking for volunteers to bring therapy dogs to help comfort the students and to also help them deal with the trauma.
Hearing about this tragic event, Cheryl felt compelled that she had to do something for these kids and decided to be one of those volunteers. She immediately packed her car bringing her two Bernese mountain dogs named Link and EllaB. Then she drove straight to Oxford which was north of Detroit along with two more members of her local TDI chapter.
When they arrived at Oxford, Link and EllaB were immediately met with a lot of hugs, kisses, and attention. The kids were definitely happy to see the dogs and Cheryl could see how the kids decompressed and just felt so relaxed with the Link and EllaB around.
Aside from Oxford, Cheryl and other dog handlers frequent a place called Paula’s House, a women’s recovery residence located in Monroe. One Saturday each month, she would visit the house with her dogs to bring comfort and joy to the women residents as well as their children. And it was definitely one day in the month that all residents eagerly await.
Of course, both Link and EllaB were always very happy to see them as well and gets lots of pets. It was always something that they look forward to.
Source: The Monroe News