Certified therapy dog Roxy shares more than a deep bond with the youth at Hillside Children’s Center’s Chestnut Ridge Developmental Disabilities Services group home. After suffering at the hands of an abusive owner, Roxy ended up in a Buffalo animal shelter. A dog trainer rescued Roxy, kept her for several weeks to train her as a therapy dog, and then donated her to Hillside. The trainer followed up weekly until Roxy completed her certification as a therapy dog.

Roxy now lives at the Chestnut Ridge group home and helps the six girls in residence overcome the trauma and challenges in their lives. “She’s very calming to the kids when they get upset,” says Western New York Developmental Disabilities Services Unit Manager Amy Winters. “They also like to take her for walks and play with her.” The youth help to care for Roxy, which teaches them about pet ownership and responsibility. However, the most important benefit -- for both Roxy and the youth at the Chestnut Ridge group home -- may be the close bond that only forms between a dog and her "owners."