A little bit of understanding goes a long way in properly treating and approaching dogs. This was the advice Howard Useman and Melissa Fiorito shared with about 25 students Thursday during an after-school-program at Woodlawn Elementary School. The canine education and therapy team introduced Duke, a 5-year-old golden retriever, and Flash, a 9-year-old basset hound. The program teaches kids to respect and not fear dogs. Through Duke and Flash, students learned the proper way to approach a dog, how to recognize an unhappy dog and when not to go near one. "We help them to appreciate animals -- whether dogs or cats," said Fiorito. "We show them how to care for dogs, how to approach dogs and other life-long lessons." ...more

November 3, 2008