PINCKNEY — The local community has helped finance the use of four (soon to be five) therapy dogs to support students in Pinckney Community Schools.
Four dogs currently spend their school days at Country Elementary, Farley Hill Elementary, Navigator Elementary and Pathfinder Middle School. A fifth therapy dog will join Pinckney High School this fall.
The dogs help students grasp subjects or classroom projects, including those who struggle in school-related settings. The program was first proposed by Assistant Superintendent Basia Kieler with funding from donors, including one anonymous donor who’s twice given $10,000.
Teachers are encouraged to use their school therapy dog to build confidence and alleviate anxiety in students, said executive assistant Ruth Smart.
The therapy dogs — Skipper at Country, Ruby at Farley Hill, Willow at Navigator, and Roxy at Pathfinder — can also greet new students when they arrive for school. The dogs attend various events throughout the year, including parent teacher conferences or one-off fundraisers.
All of the dogs are Goldendoodles except for Ruby, a Lab. Another Goldendoodle, Jack, is currently being trained and will join the high school in September. Training for each dog takes approximately seven months and is conducted at a facility in Ortonville.
Student sessions with a teacher and therapy dog typically last around 30 minutes. When not in session, each therapy dog has their own schedule.
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After school hours, each therapy dog goes home with a handler, often an administrator or teacher. Smart is the handler for Willow. “She knows her schedule pretty well,” Smart said with a laugh. “She pretty much knows where she’s going next (during the school day).”
“It’s fun to have them around,” Smart added. “It’s been very well received by the community. We’rethankful for all the support.”
— M. Alan Scott is a freelance writer for The Livingston Daily. Contact the newsroom at newsroom@livingstondaily.com.
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Therapy dogs provide pawsitive support to Pinckney students
