Middleboro Elementary School board considers therapy dog
March 31, 2020
The School Committee is thinking of following suit with other cities and towns across the commonwealth by rolling out a therapy support dog program for at least one of its schools.
At the Feb. 13 Middleboro School Committee meeting, Superintendent Brian Lynch presented the first reading for this policy proposal.
As Lynch explained, the idea first came from Erin Doak, guidance school adjustment counselor for Henry B. Burkland Elementary, who believes support animals would be very useful for the public school system.
Committee members clarified that this conversation was dealing with therapy animals, not service dogs for the physically challenged. Emotional support/therapy animals are for kids suffering conditions like depression, emotional trauma, grief or anxiety.
“Many of us here are pet owners. I can tell you they are therapy dogs for me,” said Lynch.
Lynch referenced numerous areas in the state, such as Hanover, Easton, Foxboro, and Framingham, that had similar emotional support animal programs in their schools. He even spoke to the Superintendent for Hanover Schools about the program. “The dog is more popular than Tom Brady wrapped in bacon over at Center School in Hanover,” said Lynch.
Under the program, an emotional support dog would remain in a designated area at the school until needed. When needed, “the dog isn’t running around. A handler is with the dog at all times,” said Lynch.
The plan would be to adopt from the National Education for Assistance Dog Services (NEADS), a Massachusetts-based nonprofit. The dogs trained under this organization are among the most disciplined available.
“Rigorous testing is done with these dogs,” said Lynch, who added that “Those dogs who don’t graduate, are given up for adoption, and those are already well-trained dogs.”
Committee Chair Rich Young explained Counselor Erin Doaks is also a dog trainer and is spearheading the effort to train and adopt from NEADS. Young added there are no planned expenses for the school district for this program since Doaks is fundraising for the costs associated with adopting a dog from NEADS.
“She’s not getting paid extra. There are no stipends. This is just something she believes will make a difference in the climate and culture of the school,” said Young.
Currently, the proposal is just for one dog at Burkland Elementary School and should be thought of as a pilot program for the district.
Most Recent News
Former Victoria man’s diabetic alert dog helps him get back to life
When Luke Hengen’s diabetes worsened in his early twenties, it stripped him of the outdoor activities where the country kid felt at home. Countless wilderness adventures and years of hard-fought football games took a toll on his body, to the point where he could no longer sense when his blood sugar was too high or […]
Students Get Therapy Dog
When middle school students return to class on Jan. 11, they’ll find a new face at the door: Daisy. Daisy is a therapy dog and the personal pet of Rob Kreger, principal of the Rock L. Butler Middle School. The five-year-old golden retriever is not a school pet or mascot, but rather a working dog […]
Therapy Dogtor
Last March, Caroline Benzel, a third-year medical student, began to notice the stress and discomfort her nurse friends were feeling from the pressures of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. “[Personal protective equipment] can be really rough on the skin,” Benzel, 31, tells PEOPLE. Benzel and her 3-year-old Rottweiler, Loki (who’s also a therapy dog) hatched a […]
Therapy Dog Pups
When Stanley the miniature fox terrier’s owner passed away, the little dog started a ‘paw-some’ new role – bringing puppy love to some of the Gold Coast’s oldest residents. After Carinity Cedarbrook Diversional Therapist Julianne Staff adopted Stanley, he began visiting the aged care community at Mudgeeraba as a therapy dog. Therapy dogs help to […]
Puppy Cams
A nonprofit is providing an unusual form of therapy for those on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic – puppy cams! “You spend five minutes with a puppy and try not to smile,” said registered nurse Robin Lingg Lagrone. Lingg Lagrone says watching little furballs wag their tails and prance on their paws helps […]
Pet Committee
When Moore County’s school doors were abruptly closed earlier in 2020, two- and four-legged volunteers from the Moore County Citizens’ Pet Responsibility Committee (PRC) were in their 12th year of presenting a six-session Pet Responsibility Education Program for fourth-graders. The PRC quickly shifted gears and placed its program materials online as part of a home […]