Army veteran Fred Marrapode gets kisses from dalmatian Indy with owner Lisa Bauer as Vets from the VA Community Living Center visited Family Dog Obedience in Center Township to watch dogs run an agility course Tuesday.

CENTER TWP — About 10 residents at the VA Community Living Center who enjoyed watching and interacting with canines Tuesday, at the Family Dog Obedience Center on Route 8.

The CLC, which has 60 residents, is visited on a regular basis by about 10 different registered therapy dogs and one therapy cat, said Maryann Capuzzi, recreation therapist.

"There's a number of reasons that show why therapy dogs are therapeutic for the vets. It reduces stress and anxiety and has been shown to reduce blood pressure," Capuzzi said.

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Randy McCracken of Center Township and his Brittany spaniel, Clancy, and Janet Ellis of Center Township and her Cavalier King Charles spaniel, MacDuff, both visit the CLC weekly. They also take their dogs to the obedience center to participate in agility training.McCracken said that the vets enjoy interacting with Clancy on a leash, but he floated the idea of having them visit the obedience center to see what Clancy can do off his leash."They all love the dogs, but they never get to see them run and jump," he said.The demonstration Tuesday included 10 dogs jumping hurdles, running through tunnels, over a balance beam and dodging in and out of weave poles.A full story appeared in the Butler Eagle.