4 minute read
Get to know the therapy pups
HANNAH ALBERS Staff Writer
The dogs of some ARHS teachers have been trained to become certified therapy dogs as a resource to help with student stress and bring more joy to the building.
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Melican Middle School Principal Michelle Karb, a trainer for Bright Spot Therapy Dogs, Inc and a member of the organization’s board of directors, led a district-sponsored therapy dog training workshop on Nov. 8, providing teachers with an opportunity to begin the extensive process of certifying their dogs to be able to work with students.
“There has been a lot of research that shows that being in the presence of a dog can help calm people,” Karb said. “Some of the feel-good hormones like Oxytocin and Serotonin can really increase in the presence of a dog.”
In addition to helping students regulate stress and minimize anxiety, therapy dogs provide companionship and low-stress connections for students.
“Providing a non-judgmental living thing to support students and help them form connections with other kids is a real benefit,” Karb said.
Principal Sean Bevan sees the many benefits of therapy dogs as well; however, he takes into account the comfort and safety of all students.
“We do want to be mindful that not every student is excited to interact with a dog,” Bevan said. “Not every student loves dogs. Some are fearful of dogs.”
Maple Jane: Rebecca Duffy
According to a Harbinger survey of 160 students conducted through Google Forms from Dec. 12 to Dec. 15, 69% of respondents say they have personally benefited from having a service dog at Algonquin and 78% say they like the idea of having more service dogs in the building.
English teacher Sara Stein has a Havanese named Peppah who she believes is perfect for the program.
“Peppah has brought a lot of people joy,” Stein
Peppah: Sara Stein
said. “She used to go visit my grandfather in the nursing home; she visits my parents who are aging. She’s good at it.”
Stein believes more dogs at ARHS benefit the community in many ways.
“I think it does show a commitment to supporting students’ and staffs’ social emotional health, and I think that is something that we are going to be focused on for the years to come.”
Peppah, a 9 year-old Havanese, joins English teacher Sara Stein on Fridays in H203 as a new therapy dog. Stein translated for Peppah.
“I live locally in Southborough, so I have two favorite places to walk: [one is] the Southborough golf course where I can run off leash in the wintertime with my friends. I also like to do something my family calls ‘the big loop’ where I walk down White Bagley Road [in Southborough]. It is thrilling because the cars go so fast by me, and it’s along a trail on the reservoir where there are a lot of excellent smells.”
Parker: Joann Amberson
American Mutt, 6 year-old Maple Jane, has recently gone through therapy dog training in order to accompany art teacher Rebecca Duffy on Tuesdays in her classroom, C206.
“Her hobbies and secret talents are that she never eats the kids’ toys, which is pretty cool,” Duffy said. “She always knows if someone is sad. She also likes to rescue people from dancing.”
Labrador Retriever Parker is a community icon and beloved therapy dog, who joins Joann Amberson every day in the library.
“We call him ‘Perfect Parker;’ his name says that he doesn’t have any bad habits, none that I’d complain about,” Amberson said. “His favorite place is Algonquin. He is here 35 hours a week. He loves to walk basically anywhere, and he loves the snow and rubbing his back in it.”
Molly: Patricia Riley
Business teacher Patricia Riley’s Yorkie, Molly, has lately undergone therapy dog training to join classes on Wednesdays in E110.
“Whenever we pull up to ARHS, she gets super excited since she loves meeting new people,” Riley said.
Sake: Kathleen Clark
Sake, the English Black Labrador Retriever in H201, joins English teacher Kathleen Clark on Mondays as a new therapy dog, putting her previous years of seeing-eye-dog training to use.
“She has many secret talents,” Clark said. “She was supposed to be an assistance dog at Guiding Eyes for the Blind. She was there for a year, and then she flunked out. Then they picked her up at NEADS Service Dogs, where she got even more obedience training on top of that. So, I would say her hidden talents are that she brings me my phone when I get a text, and she picks up my glasses for me. If the kids in class drop a pencil, she knows how to get it and bring it to them. She’s pretty smart.”
Milo: Kelly Viera
Milo, a 1 year-old Cunucu, has enjoyed his new duty as a therapy dog since joining adjustment counselor Kelly Viera on Wednesdays in room H214.
“He loves running. We have a fenced in backyard and he sprints around the yard,” Viera said. “He can shake hands and he can sniff [out treats].”
Teddy: Kristine Norrman
Teddy, a Cockapoo, has become a therapy dog and will be in Applied Arts and Technology teacher Kristine Norrman’s classroom in room C105 on Mondays and Thursdays.
“We just love having him in the classroom and seeing kids open up who don’t normally make small talk,” Norrman said. “Students that are very quiet will come up from the back of the room and spend some time with him. It’s been quite lovely.”
Bruno: Angela Moll
Bruno, an 11-year-old rescue dog from Sterling, MA, has recently joined the Algonquin community as a therapy dog in his owner Angela Moll’s classroom. Bruno is available on Day 6 in H123.
“It gets [him] out of the house,” Moll said. “He’s excited to be a therapy dog because he actually loves people. He will walk up and down [the aisles]; it’s too bad he’s 11 and not five.”
