FRISCO — Like many other Summit County residents, Alma holds down more than one job to make ends meet. In the winter, she works with the ski patrol at Keystone when she’s needed for avalanche work. At other times, she visits local schools to help with reading programs.

But Alma doesn’t get paid for her efforts — unless, that is, you count the occasional dog biscuit or a pat on the head as well-earned wages.

The friendly, mellow black lab is one of several working dogs, also called service dogs in the county, and last week, she was at Frisco Elementary school along with Vinny, an Australian shepherd, and Morgan, a golden retriveer, to meet students, and to help raise awareness about the growing need for dogs and handlers that can help troubled kids boost their learning curve, search for buried avalanche victims, or assist differently abled people with basic tasks like shopping.

“It’s amazing. They’ve done studies and seen big jumps in literacy,” said school counselor Kathy Lorch, explaining how the dogs can draw troubled youngsters out their shell and make them feel at ease.

“We had one kid who was having a hard day, crying, just having a hard time pulling it together,” Lorch said. “Alma doesn’t do it often, but she went right up and snuggled in next to him and gave him a lick.”

The friendly attention from the dog helped the student shed that negative energy and prepare for his reading lesson, Lorch said. Similarly, the dogs can help some of the most hyperactive and easily distracted students settle down for their lessons, she said.

Once the students are calm, they read to the dogs. This is especially beneficial to kids who are very shy and who have a difficult time in peer situations, Lorch explained. In one case, she said a student came in to class and said, “I have to check out that book again because Buffy didn’t hear the end of the story,” illustrating how the dogs can even help motivate the students.

“Having a non-judgmental listener is huge,” Lorch said. “It creates an emotionally calming, emotionally accepting atmosphere. The classes just perk up when the dog comes in.”

Other dogs are trained for mobility assistance. Lyn Manton Krueger is training Morgan, a

7-month-old golden retriever, to use her nose to press the door-opening button at banks and stores, and can even help people get items off a store shelf.

“We have several teams that visit the area hospitals, Timberline Adult Daycare, the Summit County Jail, as well as working with students in the schools. The schools are looking for additional teams,” said Manton Krueger. “We are hoping to stimulate some additional interest among pet owners in the county,” she said.

There aren’t any restrictions as to breeds when it comes to therapy dogs, Manton Krueger said. The basic requirements are for the dogs to have a good obedience foundation and to be well-socialized to other dogs and people, she said.

To get more information call Manton Krueger at (970) 376-3934 or e-mail her at lmkrueger01@gmail.com.

Also, visit http://caninepartnersoftherockies.org/ or www.therapydogs.com/.

Bob Berwyn can be reached

at (970) 331-5996, or

at bberwyn@summitdaily.com.