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US swimmers using therapy dogs to relax before races

Related Topics: Dog, Labradoodle, Therapy dog

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Kacey Oberlander is missing her dogs back home, and she's more than a little stressed competing in the high-pressure environment at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials.

That's where Holly comes in.

The adorable, 4-year-old Havanese is available for petting and furry hugs.

"It just calms me down a lot," said Oberlander, who swims for York YMCA in Pennsylvania and will be attending the University of Alabama in the fall. "It's nice to see the happy puppy dogs running around when everything is so intense and everyone's so serious. The dogs are very happy all the time.