By Hillary DavisOriginal Source: latimes.com

A golden retriever named Lola is helping women overcome substance abuse just by being herself.

Lola is the new therapy dog at the New Directions for Women Foundation, a residential facility in Costa Mesa where women can seek treatment for drug and alcohol addiction while living with their children.Lola is a natural at her job, said owner David Hertzberg, who lives in Newport Beach. When the two visit New Directions' Eastside campus, Lola cheerfully greets every person, calmly lets toddlers run their hands over her cotton candy-soft ginger-colored fur and presents her...click here to continue reading