Kenosha---Just how hard does a dog have to work in order to live up to his reputation as man’s best friend?
“Banner”, a black lab, is a service animal for a child who attends Open Wings, a private school in Kenosha that specializes in giving special needs kids a chance to reach their full potential.
In addition to helping his assigned child, Banner has had a positive, calming influence on the rest of the school. "From what I understand some children with autism can get easily agitated or can't settle in," said Jean Preston, a Carthage College English professor whose granddaughter attends Open Wings."Banner has become part of the school," she adds.
As a school fundraiser, Preston, who heads up Carthage's writing center, wrote a children’s book which was inspired by the dog.
“Banner and the Butterfly” has become a big hit.
Banner is now lending a hand, er, paw, to promote sales.
For enthusiastic readers at a recent book signing, Banner put his paw print on copies.
The book is available for purchase by contacting Open Wings.
Preston spoke recently on WGTD's Morning Show. The full interview is here.
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