Brighton, a lively 5-year-old with Cerebral Palsy and hearing loss, was partnered with his therapy dog, Heather, in September of 2008. Therapy dogs like Heather enjoy human contact, provide affection and comfort, and are content to be petted and handled. They are often used in hospitals, nursing homes and schools. Heather is the epitome of a therapy dog with her calm demeanor and gentle disposition. Brighton often experiences nighttime disturbances, and Heather lies patiently by his side on the bed, unconditionally accepting his behavior. Brighton feeds and grooms Heather, which is teaching him to be gentle and responsible for his therapy dog.
