Therapy dog helps special needs students at Palmer school

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – A therapy dog is helping special needs students at a Palmer elementary school. Anchorage television station KTVA reports that 3-year-old golden retriever Casper works at Swanson Elementary School. Kelly Sosa trained Casper in California. She says school is hard for some special needs students and the dog gives them something to look forward to. She says Casper helps interrupt meltdowns and connects special needs children with the rest of the community. Swanson principal Rourka Spatz says students earn time with Casper for good behavior. Spatz says it’s easy to see the positive effect the dog has on students.