Rosie, a two-year-old Pyredoodle, is registered as a diabetic alert dog. She also serves Clarksburg West Virginia residents with her calming nature, relief from anxiety and loneliness, encourages communication, and reduces blood pressure. Rosie roams the facility and interacts with residents and staff alike. Here she poses for the camera with Employment Specialist Charles Owens.
Almost every day the Clarksburg program has Rosie as a special guest, a service/therapy dog donated by K9s to FurKids, an organization that trains service dogs for veterans and low income families who cannot afford such a support animal. Rosie is registered with the American Diabetes Association as a diabetic alert dog. According to Director Nita Schoonover, Rosie is a cross between a standard Poodle and a Great Pyrenees and roams the facility interacting with residents and staff alike. Above Resident Misty Grafton is the recipient of Rosie’s calming nature. Studies have shown that service/therapy dogs provide benefits including relief from anxiety and loneliness, encourage communication, reduce blood pressure, and other physiological benefits.
