Sandra and a 150 pound St. Bernard, Athena, are both members of Friends of Leroy Brown. "I walk the dogs, I train them everyday," said Sandra Anylor.
Friends of Leroy Brown is a program that teaches developmentally disabled people how to train and care for dogs. "It puts some enthusiasm and confidence in them that they can still do what most people, unless they grew up training dogs, they can't do," said Andrew Rowe, a Day Service Coordinator for the program.
For Friends of Leroy Brown, the dogs aren't only their companions, but they help them make friends, because who can resist that furry face? "When we come in the nursing homes, they're kind of forced to talk to people because they want to know 'Hey how's your dog, what's your dog's name?'" said Rowe, "By doing that they work on their social skills, you know how to introduce ourselves, topics that we can talk about out in the public."
Each of the dogs are specially trained to be patient with their handlers. "They're calm, and they're playful, they really work with us when we help them out, like feeding them and watering them," said Anylor.
And as the saying goes - "They're a friend to us, all of us," said Sandra - A dog really is man's best friend.
