Three elementary school students have become the youngest volunteers to complete the training and pass the test to become animal handlers with PAWS for People, a pet therapy service.
Ten-year-old fourth graders Jada Komadina and Sarah Moriak plus 14-year-old eighth-grader Ally Moriak began as junior members of PAWS for People four years ago, where they volunteered at reading events and began learning how to handle the therapy animals. But recently they all passed the STEX testing requirements moved the students from junior members to teen members of the group, allowing them to actually handle the animals themselves with an adult present.
STEX is a canine good-citizen test, according to Sharon Bednar, a volunteer with PAWS for People.