Amanzimtoti Primary School introduces a therapy dog
An educator at the school started doing her own research and was amazed at the benefits a school dog brings to a learner’s school day.
AMANZIMTOTI Primary School has introduced a Golden Retriever therapy dog, Charlie, to provide affection, comfort and support to the children at the school.
The school’s Jenny Curren said, “I do a lot counselling with the learners in the school and a few years ago I stumbled on information with regards to schools, mainly overseas schools, using therapy dogs in classrooms and during counselling sessions. I started to do my own research and was amazed at the benefits a school dog brings to a learner’s school day.”
ALSO READ: Mental health workshop held in Amanzimtoti
She found the following benefits of therapy dogs: they increase levels of dopamine and serotonin, improve physical well-being, decrease anxiety, increase positive mood, ease social isolation, help children learn social skills as well as help young readers gain confidence because, a learner who finds it stressful to read out loud in front of others find it easier to read to a therapy dog as there is no judgement felt.
“So, the dream to get one started in 2018. After convincing my principal and school governing body that a school therapy dog would benefit the learners I started to search for the right breeders,” she said.
Unfortunately, it was not as easy as she thought it would be and ultimately came up against a few hurdles.
Then Covid-19 hit and the dream was shelved.
ALSO READ: Teen author pens book
“In 2021 I approached the new principal to ‘resurrect the dream’. She loved the idea and wholeheartedly supported me and the idea. I eventually found fantastic breeders in the Western Cape and managed to book Charlie,” said Jenny.
Charlie is still young and finds it difficult to walk on a lead, but he is good at following Jenny around the school. She said when he gets older he will be on a lead when necessary. He also goes home with her everyday after school.
“Charlie will be attending puppy school and all the necessary training that he will need to be extremely obedient, however, he is already amazing us with his calmness and his totally ‘chilled’ personality,” she said.
They wanted Charlie from a puppy, so that he and the learners can grow together. “We hope that having Charlie from very little will help children who might be afraid of dogs to not feel anxious around him as he is still a puppy,” she said.
The school is, however, teaching the learners that not all dogs have the same temperament and that it is important not to approach a dog that they do not know.
DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics. To receive news links via WhatsApp or Telegram, send an invite to 061 694 6047
The South Coast Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest – why not join us there?
Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)
