Dozens of scientific reports point to the ability of dogs to help those struggling with depression and anxiety. Teachers and students at Fairview Elementary School are using two companion animals - Sugar and Bear - to encourage shy readers to read aloud, to foster social skills within autistic students, to motivate children to exercise and provide incentives for good behavior. Nina Henderson, pre-K coordinator at Fairview Elementary, has rescued animals from shelters for eight years bringing them out to her farm in Rutledge.