Unleash an army of therapy dogs on our failing schools

Eleven years ago, I walked into an animal shelter with no intention of adopting a dog. My previous dog had just died, and I only thought it would be therapeutic to be around dogs. But like the millions before me who have adopted a pet by accident, I’d overestimated my willpower by a mile.

As it happened, a rawboned Tibetan terrier had just come in off the road. His fur was filthy and matted, and his tail was bent: a truly pathetic sight. I didn’t have the heart to let him spend the night in a cold cage.