ATHENS — Sharyl Groscost will tell you that she has “four two-legged children, and two four-legged children.”

She calls her 6-year-old Lakeland terrier, Sailor, and her 4-year-old West Highland terrier, Mr. Piper, “children for empty nesters,” but to the residents of local nursing and senior citizen homes, they offer unconditional love and healing.

Sailor and Piper are certified therapy dogs. Sharyl, who with her husband, Dan, live in Black’s Landing subdivision on the Tennessee River, have moved 15 times since they met and married while still students at Purdue University.

It was while the couple was living in Marietta, Ga., about 10 years ago that Sharyl was looking around for volunteer opportunities after having taught in elementary school for about 15 years.

She knew she wanted to work with children and at the time she owned her first “Westie,” who was named Kelsi McCloud. She heard about a group, Dreamworkers, Inc., that trained and certified therapy dogs.

After observing what she can only describe as “miracles” wrought by the animals with disabled and special needs children, she new she wanted to get Kelsi certified.

“We worked with disabled children and I took her every week to an elementary school and a middle school,” said Sharyl. “It was just amazing to see some these children who had never spoken a word saying, ‘doggie, doggie.’ Their parents stood in the doorway with tears streaming down their cheeks. They had never heard their children speak before.

“There have been all kinds of instances where dogs can communicate with people with autism, cerebral palsy, Alzheimer’s and blindness. There was one little girl who had shaken baby syndrome after having been violently shaken by her mother’s boyfriend. The mother gave her up and an older couple adopted her. They took such good care of her and dressed her beautifully, but she could only relate to the dog.”

Sharyl said that after her first therapy dog died at the age of 13 she got her present dogs after moving to Limestone County about nine years ago.

“After the experience in Marietta, I knew I wanted to continue to do this kind of work,” she said.

She learned about Therapy Dogs Inc., a group that trains and certifies dogs in North Alabama, and the local group, Love on a Leash, headed by Sheila Wilbanks. Members of Love on a Leash visit local nursing homes and senior citizen assisted living facilities.

“I still want to work with little children, but for now we go to nursing homes, assisted living and veteran homes,” she said. “We go every Tuesday. On the first Tuesday of the month we go to Athens Convalescent Center, the second to Limestone Lodge, the third to Limestone Health Facility and the fourth to Limestone Manor.”

When it’s time to go to work, Sharyl straps bright red canvas vests on her Sailor and Piper.

“They know we put the vests n that we are going visiting and they’re on the job,” she said.

Sharyl said her dogs had already had classes in obedience and advanced obedience before therapy training.

“They learn agility, getting in and out and around wheelchairs, up and down halls where wheelchairs are,” she said. “These dogs don’t have to be purebreds. It’s the temperament that counts. They must be patient, especially with children. They must be able to sense which children will be gentle and which will be rough. And a few parlor tricks help.”

Sharyl said the dogs train in groups with other dogs to become socialized.

“They must walk into a room with other dogs and cats and stay calm,” she said. “The more experienced they get, the better they get.”

Those who belong to a therapy dog organization must pay dues that go to pay for liability insurance.

“As long as we follow the rules, we are covered by insurance,” Sharyl said. “If a dog is involved in a patient having an accident, we are covered.”

Sharyl recommends that anyone wanting more information about having a pet trained as a therapy dog should call Sheila Wilbanks at (256) 777-3388.

“It’s very rewarding, like a lot of volunteer work,” said Sharyl. “It’s rewarding and you can’t put a price on that.”