Every Thursday morning at the Robert Horbelt Intermediate School in Barnegat Township, a special visitor enters the classrooms.

She’s “Leisel,” a certified therapy dog, one of five utilized in the district. The others are “Winnie,” which visits the Collins School, “Coconut” and “Jager,” guests at the high school, and “Stella,” at the Russell Brackman Middle School.

“Jager is also an emergency response dog,” said Kim Germano, Drug Free Communities coordinator/district counselor in charge of the program.