Principal wants to provide full-time therapy dog to help students

La Salle Elementary wants to add an employee, but this worker will walk on four legs.

“I don’t know any local schools that have this,” said superintendent Brian DeBernardi.

He’s talking about the district’s desire to have a full-time therapy dog to serve the district’s two schools.

“There might be schools that bring in a therapy dog, but we’ll be the first school to have this dog all day, every day,” DeBernadi said, referring to practices at other Illinois Valley schools.

The dog, which hasn’t been born yet, would be owned by Jon Fox, principal at Lincoln Junior High School.

The dog would come to school with him during school hours Mondays-Fridays just as any other school employee.

The dog would be able to serve the district in many capacities, explained Fox.

Some benefits include helping students with reading, public speaking, positive reinforcement, as well as helping students who are struggling. The dog could provide school-wide incentives too.

The dog could provide incentives to help truancy numbers.

The district is hoping that by the end of spring of 2022, all the dog’s training will be completed, but the dog would also be able to stop by before that to get acquainted with the school.

There is the possibility that the dog would not pass the certification required.

If the dog is not able to pass the needed certification, the dog would continue to live with Fox but wouldn’t be able to serve as a therapy dog.

Fox said that at this time, there will be no additional cost to the district. He said that he will pay for the expenses, or the expenses will be paid by a grant if it is awarded.

HOW CAN A THERAPY DOG HELP STUDENTS?

How can therapy dogs benefit students? Dogs can help children by bringing joy and laughter; taking a child's mind off of personal problems, aches, pains and worries; providing soft fur to be petted; acting as an icebreaker in getting children to share their emotions and stories.
Dogs can also create opportunities for children to develop/enhance socialization skills; provide non-judgmental support and motivation; lower stress levels, according to the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. The Alliance provides testing, registration, support and insurance for members involved in volunteer animal-assisted activities.