Therapy dogs bring comfort and joy to people, and yet in many schools, students have a very limited time in which they can interact with the dogs. At Pennridge High School, the therapy dog, Kebo, is only in the building twice a week. During those days, he greets students at the main entrance and will occasionally visit classrooms. Those small, often random moments to interact with him are not enough.
A common concern regarding the presence of therapy dogs in schools is for people who are allergic to the animals. However, the allergic student or staff member is generally okay as long as they avoid touching the dog. Julie MacDade, a resident of Perkasie, PA, shares that “My mom is very allergic to cats and dogs, but she still loves seeing them. She just avoids petting them.” Many also argue that therapy dogs in schools wouldn’t be good for people who are afraid of dogs. While this is true, no one is forced to pet or interact with the therapy dogs. If someone is allergic or fearful of dogs, they can easily stay a comfortable distance away.
Robin Landis, an administrative assistant at Pennridge High School, states “I haven’t heard one negative thing about him,” when speaking of Kebo. She happily describes the smiles he brings to everyone and wishes they could get him out and into classrooms more. Research shows that the act of petting a therapy dog, or even just the presence of one, significantly reduces students’ stress and improves mental health. Furthermore, therapy dogs can even provide social and emotional support when someone needs it.
Kebo should spend more time with students at Pennridge High School. Students adore him, as he alleviates the stress many students often feel while at school. After just a few minutes of seeing him, students are seen smiling and having renewed energy to get schoolwork done. Kebo visiting more will only make people happier and more motivated to learn. Going forward, Kebo should be permitted brief, five-minute visits to classrooms. Teachers can request and schedule the visits so that Kebo doesn’t disrupt their teaching. In the end, Kebo should be with students more often as Pennridge High School’s therapy dog.
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