By David RotensteinNKyTribune Reporter
Doug — no last name — is one of Northern Kentucky’s newest therapy pets. The three-year old tabby and his human handler, Dr. Andrea Nieman, on Feb. 21 passed an evaluation administered by Pet Partners of Greater Cincinnati. The new certification will enable Doug (and Nieman) to visit schools, medical care facilities and other places where people might benefit from snuggling with a furry friend to relieve stress.
A group of veterinarians founded Pet Partners in the 1970s and it has grown into a nationwide organization. Though most people think of dogs when the subject of therapy animals comes up, Pet Partners boasts nine species in its program, according to its website: dogs, cats, equines [horses and donkeys], rabbits, guinea pigs, domestic rats, birds, mini pigs, llamas and alpacas.
Rats?…