Therapy dogs

Came across two postings on the same topic on the same day.  Seems there was a recent study in Canada that showed some good results for kids with ASD who were paired with therapy dogs.  
http://www.autism-society.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=16561

Also learned about an organization in Oregon that will match your child with ASD with a trained therapy dog (for a fee-- a big fee!)   (I LOVE the pictures on their website!)

So my brain is churning on this one.  There are dogs that are trained to work with kids here in Marquette as part of a reading program.  You can sign up to have your child practice reading aloud to a dog (dogs don't judge!).  The Youth Services department at Peter White Public Library (226-4320) has more information on this program. 

I wonder if we could work out a therapy dog program of sorts.  I don't know much about dogs, and less about training dogs, but I'm intrigued by the possibilities.  With the reading program, we had more dogs signed up than children.  Right now I'm imaging a Big brothers/Big sisters type program but with dogs.