Students at Jefferson County school hold retirement parade for touch therapy dog
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) -A touch therapy dog in Jefferson County got an incredible send-off.
TJ, a touch therapy dog at Lone Dell Elementary in Arnold for eight years, has been lifting spirits while overcoming his health battle. His handler, Brett Walters, is a special education teacher and works with students with emotional and behavioral disorders.
“If anyone is having a meltdown or things like that, he’s right there,” said Walters. “He picks up on it, he comes over, licks them, gives them love.”
The kids told First Alert 4 that TJ helped them when they got angry and was always there to cheer people up.
TJ was diagnosed with cancer and given a three-month timeline, which has prompted him to retire. He meant so much to so many people at the school that they gave him a retirement parade to celebrate his service, say goodbye and tell him thank you.
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