Therapy, service and comfort animals are used in a variety of health care and mental health capacities throughout the world.  Students in the Falls Church Academy health and medical science courses had the opportunity to meet some of these dogs who are active and in training along with their handlers/trainers through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs organization.  More than 500,000 of these highly trained animals are in service within the United States each year.  Students learned how this organization provides testing, certification, registration, support, and insurance for members who volunteer with dogs to visit hospitals, special needs centers, schools, nursing homes, and other facilities.