Bolton, a volunteer for the nonprofit People Animals Love, takes his Australian shepherd, Arby, to the hospital to visit the sick. Bolton also works the pet loss comfort line, a phone number those distressed by the death of a pet can call to receive help. Bolton, a D.C. resident, works in Fairfax County as a school psychologist. How did you get involved in People Animals Love?

A friend encouraged me. She thought that Arby would be a good pet therapy dog because she’s so fluffy and friendly. Once I got involved with the pet visiting program, they found out that I was a mental health professional, and they asked if I would volunteer with the comfort line.