Training therapy pups to bring comfort and joy to humans

Schoolteacher Evans with Harley Grace (left) and Charlie Brown, who are in the process of being trained to be therapy dogs.

When Julie Kirker’s chocolate Labrador named Bear retired from Paws of Grace, a therapy dog ministry that Kirker founded, she thought her time as a therapy dog handler was over.

Though Bear died more than 10 years ago, tears still come to Kirker’s mind when she thinks of her former companion and the joy he brought to those who met him.