Airmen 'unleash' new recovery program for patients
Staff Sgt. Kristen Smith gives verbal positive reinforcement to her explosives-detection military working dog, Cezar, for his conduct during his participation in the K-9 Visitation Program at the Air Force Theater Hospital May 15 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The newly created program allows AFTH patients to interact with K-9s to help further their recovery after injury or illness as a form of animal-assisted therapy. The program also furthers the military working dogs' training, as they work in close proximity with coalition forces here during their day-to-day mission. Sergeant Smith is a 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Group K-9 handler. She and her dog are deployed from McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. Sergeant Smith is a native of Johnstown, Pa. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Dilia Ayala)