North Kansas City schools honors its service pets on National Therapy Animal Day
April 30 is National Therapy Animal Day, a nationwide celebration honoring service pets for their daily contributions to humans.
April 30 is National Therapy Animal Day, a nationwide celebration honoring service pets for their daily contributions to humans.
April 30 is National Therapy Animal Day, a nationwide celebration honoring service pets for their daily contributions to humans.
A service dog at one North Kansas City high school was the subject of celebration Tuesday.
April 30 is National Therapy Animal Day, a nationwide celebration honoring service pets for their daily contributions to humans.
Kenai, a three-year-old black lab and therapy dog, helps students at Northtown High School cope with challenging days.
"And once they get in there and they sit down on the floor and I give him his commands, and that is to get into their lap and just lay his head down and just give them a sense of relief," Jessica Byers, Kenai's handler, said .
National Therapy Animal Day recognizes the importance of dogs like Kenai. These animals provide comfort and support in workplaces and schools.
Therapy animals are becoming increasingly popular in school districts across the Kansas City area.
"It just brings a whole different atmosphere to the school," Byers noted.
Northland students agree with this sentiment.
"He's just always there when you need him," Reed Pearman, a senior at Northtown, said.
North Kansas City is particularly supportive of therapy animals, boasting eight of them in the district.
"I feel like they're definitely catching on. I feel like other workplaces are having them, so who doesn't love a dog? I mean, at the workplace, right?" Byers said.
The celebration of National Therapy Animal Day is a testament to the growing recognition of the significant role these animals play in our lives.