March wildfires prompt agency’s need for therapy dog

Nora is a two-year-old black labrador retriever and Grand Mental Healths new therapist-in-training.

The idea to bring her in as a therapy dog began in March, when wildfires were ravaging the state of Oklahoma.

After natural disasters that cause damage or loss, Grand Mental Health therapists are among the many helpers who respond to people in need.

We were noticing it was difficult to open up to mental health professionals and initiate those services, but then we observed different agencies bringing in therapy dogs, said Thomas Comstock, Director of Crisis Services. Dogs understand human emotions faster than we do.

Comstock is a retired police officer who spent 15 years working with the K-9 unit.

Nora was originally brought to the United States from Holland. She initially trained as a