On Wednesday, June 15, Stevie (adopted by Deb Cracker) and Casper (adopted by Sherri Mains) graduated from the Helping Paws of North Carolina pet therapy class and are now certified pet therapy dogs. Both dogs also passed the Americal Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen test as part of the training. The dogs are now able to visit nursing homes and hospitals to brighten the days of residents and patients.

What makes this event unique is the Stevie and Casper are impared dogs. They are double merles and neither of them have hearing capabilities, and Stevie has greatly reduced eyesight, limited to only distiguishing lightness from darkness.

Stevie's accomplishment has pulled him into the local limelight. He was featured as front-page news in the Chapel Hill News on Sunday, June 29. Congratulations to Stevie and Deb and Casper and Sherri!

   Chapel Hill News: Stevie the Wonder dog passes test
   Helping Paws of North Carolina