Future Therapy Dogs Train at Barracks Road - NBC29 WVIR Charlottesville, VA News, Sports and Weather

Dogs in training to become therapy dogs through Green Dogs Unleashed, based out of Troy, walked through Barracks Road Shopping Center and even into Old Navy Tuesday afternoon to practice being around distractions.

Once the training is complete, the dogs - many of them special needs themselves - will help people with special needs.

"It is a great mix. We're not service dogs; we're therapy dogs. We go into hospitals and bring our dogs to people for comfort. There is no specific breed that's better than any other. It's really about the personality of the dog,” said Erika Proctor, executive director of Green Dogs Unleashed.

Many of the dogs have been rescued from high-kill shelters and are now being rehabilitated.