We have a 10-year-old golden retriever whom we love dearly, but it was just time for us to add another one. We have four kids in our home, and two are out of college, one is in college, and one is getting ready to go to college. But this summer, everyone is still home, so we thought this was the perfect summer to add to our family since everybody would be home not only to love them but to help out. I am also a counselor at Crestwood Elementary, and I've seen a need for calming kids who are anxious or just might need a little love, so I really wanted to have our next family pet be trained to be a therapy dog.

Banks is a song I need to breathe that a friend told me about, and that became the meaning of his name. The song is about a riverbank and how riverbanks hold you together, but they don't hold you back, and that's what I want this puppy to be for the kids at Crestwood Elementary. I want banks to offer them love and help them grow their confidence. I want him to add to their life so that they know that they are limitless and amazing, and I think that animals have a special way of bringing out a different side of some kids.

He can be dead asleep, and if somebody comes in the door, he will pop right up and greet them with love and share his whole heart and let you know how happy he is to welcome you home… And then he will pop right back down and go right back to sleep. It is adorable.

He is a connection piece for our entire family. We all love him very much. Our desire to be close to him has brought us all closer together. He was able to be at school for the last two weeks as well, and in those two weeks, he made a big impact, bringing not only staff but students together as well.