Staff Sgt. Jason Mueller, a San Diego native and Soldier assigned to Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, "Thunder" 3rd Cavalry Regiment, volunteered with his therapy-dog "Buster" at Williams Elementary School's "Literacy Night" held May 4 in Georgetown, Texas.
"Literacy Night" is a program where therapy dogs are used by the school to help build children's confidence while reading out loud. Williams Elementary school is only composed of children in grades 3 -5. Children would go from room to room petting different therapy dogs and reading out loud to dogs, handlers and parents.
Mueller is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and has served a tour in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. Mueller has been in the Army primarily as a tanker for 18 years. He plans to retire when he gets over 20, and continue volunteering with the therapy dog program.
"Buster's used to a lot of different situations," said Mueller. Buster, a six-year old Boston terrier had to go through hours of training and a number of different certifications to earn the "Complex" rating of therapy dog. "Complex" refers to the types of scenarios that the therapy dogs are qualified for. Buster is qualified at the highest rating of therapy dog. Buster has provided therapy to hospices, vet clinics, schools, and he recently took part in a "No Vet Dies Alone" campaign. "Buster can sense when people aren't doing well," Mueller said.
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