Think of a situation that makes you nervous. Maybe you’re taking a test. Or maybe you’re at the doctor’s office, about to get a shot. Your mind races. Your heart pounds. Just then, a source of comfort walks in on furry legs: a dog. As you give it pats and belly rubs, your nerves melt away.

People who love them know that dogs can brighten any situation. This is the logic behind therapy-dog programs, which pair trained dogs with people who need to be comforted. With their calm personalities, therapy dogs can stay relaxed in high-stress environments.

Dr. Jeffrey Kline is associate chair of research in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Wayne State University. He knew that therapy dogs have been proven to reduce stress for adult patients in hospital emergency rooms. He wondered if the dogs would help kids. The results of his study, released in JAMA Network Open, are positive.

Kline conducted the study at Riley Children’s Hospital. It included 80 kids, ages 5 to 17. The participants were emergency-room patients. All received care from a specialist trained to help patients handle stress. Half the group also received a visit from a therapy dog and its handler.

According to the study results, patients who spent 10 minutes with a dog saw their anxiety level drop by nearly half. The effects lasted for up to two hours. “Both the children and their parents...had faster and more resolution of anxiety,” Kline said. “These findings...support the role of therapy dogs in pediatric (小儿科的) emergency departments.”

Kline’s study shows that therapy dogs are a powerful tool for easing anxiety in patients and their families. He hopes to take the idea further. “We are working toward a plan to provide ‘dog on demand’ to hospitalized patients,” he says. He expects demand to grow for therapy dogs in more and more hospitals.

1. 1. What is the main purpose of therapy-dog programs?

A    To train dogs for shows.

B    To keep dogs busy.

C    To help doctors treat patients.

D    To comfort people in need.

2. 2. Why did Dr. Kline conduct the study?

A    To prove dogs help adults.

B    To test dogs’ effect on kids.

C    To find new sources of stress.

D    To study animal behavior.

3. 3.How did Dr. Kline design his study on therapy dogs?

A    By comparing two groups of children.

B    By studying only adult patients.

C    By using untrained dogs.

D    By focusing on dog handlers.

4. 4.What’s a result of the study?

A    Short interactions had lasting effects.

B    Longer visits were necessary.

C    Effects disappeared quickly.

D    Parents needed more comfort than kids.