Therapy Dog Greets Students With Hugs Daily

Why this is here: Students learned to sign the Happy Birthday song in American Sign Language so they could celebrate Cole’s birthday and learn a new skill together.

Chris Hannah and Cole, a deaf Pitbull in South Jersey, visit a local school each day where Cole offers hugs to students. Hannah trained Cole as a certified therapy dog after noticing his ability to learn sign language. Students eagerly greet Cole, who sits by a sign asking for hugs, and even signed “Happy Birthday” to him last year.

Hannah, along with his deaf nephew, developed a social-emotional learning program at the school. The program encourages students to embrace their differences and find empowerment through acceptance. They now bring a team of four therapy dogs—three born deaf and one deaf and blind—to schools in the region.

Cole also spends summers as a counselor at a camp for children with disabilities. Though he won the ASPCA’s National Dog of the Year award in 2023, Hannah notes the most rewarding part is watching the connections Cole makes with students. The program continues to expand, reaching more schools and students.