A VETERINARY nurse, from Rowley Regis, is appearing in a TV series fronted by funny man and actor Alan Davies with her Pets for Therapy pooch.

Toni Gregory is also embarking on a new career having landed a teaching assistant post at Halesowen’s Earls High School where she will use her dogs to help pupils with their reading development.

She and rescue dog Maggie May signed up for Pets for Therapy and passed the assessment last December and their story will be told Channel 5’s The Dog Rescuers within the next few weeks.

Mrs Gregory, aged 29, of Rough Hill Drive, said: “It was really good – like being on a proper film set. It was quite an experience and I’m looking forward to seeing Maggie on the TV.”

The former Earls High pupil has been going back to classroom with the eight-year-old Shih Tzu since qualifying to do the Read2Dogs scheme, where by children who are struggling with their reading read stories to Maggie.

She said: “It helps the students relax and build up their confidence in reading as the dog doesn't laugh or judge.

“It's a very simple concept and I am genuinely amazed at how well our group of students have improved and developed.”

Part of the TV programme was filmed at the school and Mrs Gregory, who has three dogs in total including another Pets for Therapy cross terrier called Madam, is looking forward to taking up her new classroom role after 13 years as an animal nurse.