Therapy dog King, who became the first dog in Worcester county to participate in a program with the goal of improving reading skills of students at Showell Elementary School, has retired. King and owner Jack Barnes initiated the program in 2006 with full support from then Principal Paula Jones and Special Education teacher Elizabeth Scott. It was a leap of faith for the school at the time but Showell, a Blue Ribbon school known for education excellence and innovation, embraced the program with full support from School Superintendent Dr. Jon Andes. That support continued with new Showell Principal Diana Shorts until King, now almost 16 years of age, found it necessary to step down. King would work with students one on one as each selected their favorite book to read to him.  Shown in the photo are the students in Kings final class, who presented King with a special thank you card and some treats, along with Special Education teacher Elizabeth Scott, Jack Barnes and King.