Rain - a therapy dog owned by
Teresa & Eleanor Ralenkotter of Walton, KY *
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Above and beyond their place as family companions and in traditional service occupations, dogs in Kentucky serve in an ever-widening spectrum of therapeutic roles. The physical and emotional benefits to humans that come from relationships with dogs are now recognized and utilized by psychiatric facilities, assisted living centers, hospitals, schools and even prisons.
Today, dogs contribute more to the welfare of individuals and society than perhaps any other time in the history of the human dog bond. Additionally, over the past three decades, increased awareness of the importance of humane care and control of dogs, the enactment and enforcement of leash laws, and dog bite prevention education, have all been instrumental in drastically reducing the number of reported dog-related injuries in Kentucky and throughout the nation.
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Rain, a Basset hound, was nominated for the 2008 AKC Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE) for therapy work in Kentucky.
National Canine Research Council