Greg Hatala/For NJ Advance Media

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Animals deliver -- therapy and goods -- during the COVID-19

The American Kennel Club reports that dogs are delivering more than tail wags during the coronavirus crisis.

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According to the AKC, “For almost a month, Hannah Lucas and her team of Siberian huskies have been helping deliver groceries and medicine to vulnerable residents in Maine as the coronavirus spreads throughout the state. Hannah runs the Northlane Siberian Huskies and Seppala Siberian Sleddog Team and a kennel of Siberian Huskies in Caribou, Maine. Each day, Hannah runs two teams, which each have six dogs, making an average of 4-6 deliveries a day.”

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Visits and comfort from therapy dogs have become a routine part of healthcare in the United States; social media is helping them reach people who could use some comfort during the pandemic.

“Zukunft Von Augustine (better known as Zuke) is a 2-year-old German shepherd in Florida certified through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs,” noted the AKC. Zuke was not one to goof off; “before social distancing was implemented, he was going to Golisano Children’s hospital once a week, doing a 'Read to SuperZuke' program at an elementary school once a week, working one-on-one with abused children at the Children’s Advocacy Center, going to church to visit with the members weekly and being a Lee County Courthouse dog.”

Zuke gained national attention after spending nearly seven hours with three abuse victims as they testified against their abuser in a trial. According to his owner, Joy Augustine, social-distancing guidelines during the pandemic made Zuke restless. That’s when Augustine got a call from a child 900 miles away asking if she could read to him on FaceTime.

“We posted the session on Facebook and it took off,” said Augustine. “We had two more children on the second day that wanted to read to him and we’ve started doing Zoom conferences for those that don’t have iPhones. It looks like it is going to be helpful to those who are homeschooling and trying to learn from home.”

She encourages other therapy teams to use the time they previously used for visits to have them virtually listen to a child read to a therapy dog for 15 minutes. “It’s a positive way to stay engaged,” said Augustine.

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South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter

Dandelion is a 4-year-old female mixed breed in the care of the South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter in Vineland. For more information, call 856-691-1500, email adoptions@sjras.org or go to https://southjerseyregionalanimalshelter.org/.

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Summit Animal Rescue Association

Felix is a young male domestic shorthair in the care of the Summit Animal Rescue Association. For more information, call 908-578-4354, email saracats.julia@gmail.com or go to sararescue.petfinder.com.

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Animal Alliance

Maddie is a 2-year-old female Chihuahua/dachshund mix in the care of Animal Alliance in Lambertville. For more information, call 609-818-1952 or go to animalalliancenj.org.

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EASEL Animal Rescue League

Pinky is a senior female domestic shorthair in the care of EASEL Animal Rescue League in Ewing. For more information, email apps@easelnj.org, call 609-883-0540 or go to https://www.easelnj.org/.

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All Star Pet Rescue

Rebel is a senior male chocolate Labrador retriever in the care of All Star Pet Rescue in Linden. For more information, email allstarpets@comcast.net or go to https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/nj/linden/all-star-pet-rescue-nj451/.

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Franklin Township Animal Shelter

Poppie is a 6-year-old female domestic shorthair at the Franklin Township Animal Shelter in Somerset County. For more information, call 732-748-7232 or go to secondchanceforanimals.org.

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Southern Ocean County Animal Facility

Sadie is a 1-year-old female Labrador retriever mix in the care of the Southern Ocean County Animal Facility in Manahawkin. For more information, call 609-978-0127, email socaf@@ochd.org or go to https://www.ochd.org.

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Somerset Regional Animal Shelter

Kara is an adult female domestic shorthair at the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter in Bridgewater. For more information, call 908-725-0308 or go to awos.petfinder.com/shelters/sras.html.

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Eleventh Hour Rescue

Phoenix is a 6-year-old male Labrador retriever/pit bull terrier mix in the care of Eleventh Hour Rescue in Rockaway. For more information call 973-664-0865 or go to https://www.ehrdogs.org/.

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Animal Alliance

Pixie is a 2-year-old female domestic shorthair in the care of Animal Alliance in Lambertville. For more information, call 609-818-1952 or go to https://www.animalalliancenj.org/.

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Associated Humane Society in Tinton Falls

Rex is a 4-year-old male German shepherd at the Associated Humane Society in Tinton Falls. For more information, call 732-922-0100 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/search/pets-for-adoption/?shelter_id%5B0%5D=NJ02&sort%5B0%5D=recently_added.

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New Beginnings Animal Rescue

Maggie is a 3 1/2-year-old female dilute calico in the care of New Beginnings Animal Rescue in East Brunswick. For more information, call 732-238-1348 or go to https://newbeginningsanimalrescuenj.org/home.

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Jersey Shore Animal Center

Goliath is a 2-year-old male pit bull terrier mix with three legs and one eye at the Jersey Shore Animal Center in Brick. For more information, call 732-920-1600 or email info@jerseyshoreanimalcenter.org.

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Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center

Oinker is a 3-year-old male domestic shorthair at the Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center in Blackwood. For more information, call 856-401-1300, email info@homewardboundnj.org or go to https://homewardboundnj.org/.

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Associated Humane Society in Newark

Babe is a senior female pit bull terrier mix at the Associated Humane Society in Newark. For more information, call 973-824-7080 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/search/pets-for-adoption/?shelter_id%5B0%5D=NJ01&sort%5B0%5D=recently_added.

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Burlington County Animal Shelter

Onyx is a 9-month-old male domestic shorthair at the Burlington County Animal Shelter. For more information, call 609-265-5073 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/nj/mount-holly/burlington-county-animal-shelter-nj148/.

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Second Chance Pet Adoption League

Pepper is a 9-year-old female cocker spaniel/dachshund mix in the care of the Second Chance Pet Adoption League in Morris Plains. For more information, call 973-208-1054 or email njwoof@cs.com.

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South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter

Vanilla Bean is a 3-year-old female domestic shorthair in the care of the South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter in Vineland. For more information, call 856-691-1500, email adoptions@sjras.org or go to https://southjerseyregionalanimalshelter.org/.

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Cold Nose Warm Heart Dog Rescue

Kate is a 5-year-old female treeing walker coonhound mix in the care of the Cold Nose Warm Heart Dog Rescue in Succasunna. For more information, email info@coldnosewarmheart.org or go to https://www.petfinder.com/search/pets-for-adoption/?shelter_id%5B0%5D=NJ742&sort%5B0%5D=recently_added.

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Liberty Humane Society

Midnight is a senior male domestic shorthair in the care of the Liberty Humane Society in Jersey City. Call 201-547-4147, email lhs@libertyhumane.org or go to https://www.libertyhumane.org/.

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Edison Animal Shelter

Ms. Bunny is a 2-year-old female pit bull terrier mix in the care of the Edison Animal Shelter. For more information, call 732-248-7278, email eas@edisonnj.org or go to https://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?shelter_id=NJ593.

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EASEL Animal Rescue League

Moo Moo is an adult male domestic shorthair in the care of EASEL Animal Rescue League in Ewing. For more information, email apps@easelnj.org, call 609-883-0540 or go to https://www.easelnj.org/.

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Somerset Regional Animal Shelter

Lara is a 4-year-old female Dutch shepherd mix at the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter in Bridgewater. For more information, call 908-725-0308 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/search/pets-for-adoption/?shelter_id%5B0%5D=NJ01&sort%5B0%5D=recently_added.

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Animal Welfare Association

Horus is a 1-year-old male domestic shorthair in the care of the Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees. For more information, call 856-424-2288 or email adoptions@awanj.org.

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Humane Society of Ocean City

Carlos is an adult male shepherd mix at the Humane Society of Ocean City. For more information, call 609-398-9500 or email info@hsocnj.org.

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Humane Society of Ocean City

Amos is an 8-year-old male domestic shorthair at the Humane Society of Ocean City. For more information, call 609-398-9500 or email info@hsocnj.org.

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Associated Humane Society in Newark

Foofer is an adult male pit bull terrier mix at the Associated Humane Society in Newark. For more information, call 973-824-7080 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/search/pets-for-adoption/?shelter_id%5B0%5D=NJ01&sort%5B0%5D=recently_added.

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Salem County Humane Society

Luigi is a 2-year-old male domestic shorthair at the Salem County Humane Society in Carneys Point. For more information, call 856-299-2220 or email info@salemcountyhumanesociety.org.

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Liberty Humane Society

Ekip is an adult female brindle mixed breed in the care of the Liberty Humane Society in Jersey City. Call 201-547-4147, email lhs@libertyhumane.org or go to https://www.libertyhumane.org/.

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Salem County Humane Society

Bubba is a 9-year-old male mixed breed at the Salem County Humane Society in Carneys Point. For more information, call 856-299-2220 or email info@salemcountyhumanesociety.org.

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Burlington County Animal Shelter

Ernie is a 10-year-old male dachshund mix at the Burlington County Animal Shelter. For more information, call 609-265-5073 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/nj/mount-holly/burlington-county-animal-shelter-nj148/.

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Plainfield Area Humane Society

Bambi is a 7-year-old male domestic shorthair at the Plainfield Area Humane Society. For more information, call 908-754-0300, email contact.pahs@verizon.net or go to https://pahs.org/.

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Animal Welfare Association

Bruce Almighty is a 6-year-old male shepherd mix in the care of the Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees. For more information, call 856-424-2288 or email adoptions@awanj.org.

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Jersey Shore Animal Center

Casper is a 5-year-old male domestic shorthair at the Jersey Shore Animal Center in Brick. For more information, call 732-920-1600 or email info@jerseyshoreanimalcenter.org.

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Franklin Township Animal Shelter

Stormy is a 4-year-old female pit bull terrier at the Franklin Township Animal Shelter in Somerset County. For more information, call 732-748-7232 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/nj/somerset/franklin-township-animal-shelter-nj34/.

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Animal Outreach of Cape May County

Forest is an adult male domestic shorthair in the care of Animal Outreach of Cape May County. For more information, call 609-898-1738 or email info@aocmc.org.

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West Orange TNVR

Finn is an adult male domestic shorthair in the care of West Orange TNVR. For more information, call 973-324-1346, email wotnvr@gmail.com or go to https://www.wotnvr.com.

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Associated Humane Society in Tinton Falls

Jagger is a 10-year-old male tabby at the Associated Humane Society in Tinton Falls. For more information, call 732-922-0100 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/search/pets-for-adoption/?shelter_id%5B0%5D=NJ02&sort%5B0%5D=recently_added.

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Greg Hatala/For NJ Advance Media