A cat named D-O-G is the star of a canine training facility

Ironically, this cat plays and important role in acclimating assistance dogs to their new environments. (Associated Press)

A cat with an unlikely name has an important job at a training center for dogs.

Support Dogs, Inc. in St. Louis took in the black and white cat over the summer and named him D-O-G (dee-OH'-jee). He's more than a mascot — officials say he plays a key role getting the dogs comfortable around other animals. Assistance dogs need to be well-behaved and not be distracted in their job helping people who are deaf or have mobility problems.

Support Dogs, Inc. in St. Louis took in the black and white cat over the summer and named him D-O-G (dee-OH'-jee). (Associated Press)

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Support Dogs president and CEO Anne Klein says D-O-G is "fearless" around the larger canines and plays with their tails, sleeps in their beds, and eats and drinks from their bowls instead of his own.

The staff says D-O-G is so comfortable around the dogs, he sleeps in their beds and eats from their bowls instead of his own. (Associated Press)

The dogs go through a two-year training program before they're given to clients for free.

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