Dogs Dispatched to Comfort Ill Children

Therapy dogs, so often associated with nursing homes, have expanded their range. The trained animals now comfort people everywhere from disaster sites to hospitals, schools, even prisons. A recent trend is for dogs to work in libraries, helping children practice reading aloud. The dogs provide an attentive, non-judgmental audience for young readers still building up their confidence.

Therapy dogs were dispatched to Ground Zero after the Sept. 11 attacks and to the Gulf Coast after Katrina. They have been a big hit at facilities serving emotionally troubled or learning disabled children.

"The demand is always more than the supply," says Kelly Morrone, a manager of volunteer services. "Never enough dogs."