To ask your opinion on support dogs in schools

[OddSocksDontCare]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-47655600

I saw this article earlier and was curious as to what others think about this?

I've suffered mental health issues the past year or so and got my dog 7 months ago now. He has completely saved my life and I couldn't get more joy from him than I do.

I am considering trying to get him involved in some sort of therapy work i.e. nursing home visits / hospitals / schools etc... and have been going to training classes with him to try and lead up to this. I wouldn't have believed the thought of me having a hobby and joining a class like this a year ago!

I think the idea of pets as therapy for anxiety and stress can be a brilliant one with the right regulations in place to cater for those it would be unsuitable for (allergies, fear of dogs etc).

The Mountain Rescue dog visits our school the kids love it. Some of the care homes do it here and when my neighbour was in a home the owner had two retrievers and took them in regularly. She said they were more popular than her!

I have a hypoallergenic PAT dog (and a husband with severe allergies) and take her in to our local primary school and old people’s home. There are a couple of children who don’t like dogs (one is phobic) and we don’t go anywhere near them. They are welcome to come and say hello in the unlikely event they wanted to. We go into assembly and she is used to explain values (such a not judging) and then stay in one place and read with various children. We used to read with each child in the class, which was lovely, but I’m now limited to children with additional needs. It’s such a shame for the other children :(

She’s a massive hit at the old people’s home too - many mostly because I sit and chat!

She loves it - I’m a firm believer in the healing powers of animals and am working towards making it my profession (it’s a loooong road!).

We had a little girl who was afraid of dogs who fell in love with the rescue dog and now has a puppy of her own in the same breed.

Starlight456

Therapy dogs are tested for temperament and those who work with children are specially trained and tested to see if they'll be good around children. Someone I work with has an English bulldog who is a therapy dog and works with children. She said their dogs are practically bomb-proof. They have to be. Even children who like dogs can become excited or hyper and could potentially alarm a dog. The dogs are tested to ensure that they'll be good with children.

We actually had two therapy dogs come today to the college where I teach, including the English bulldog I describe above. They were lovely. Therapy dogs can come in all shapes and sizes - I have met several, including some Labradoodles, a Bouvier, a dachshund, and a Maltese. Interestingly, the latter actually works as a therapy dog for the staff who work in the city morgue.

Slippersandacuppa

My students in pediatric nursing have to write a paper on a trend or issue that affects the health of children. One of the topics they can choose is the use of animal assisted therapy for children. Those who choose to write about it have documented an overwhelmingly positive response in the literature, although phobias and allergies are the most commonly cited issues.

We have three cats. One of them, Mr. Bigglesworth (Biggie), would be suitable to be a wellness cat, IMO. Biggie LOVES attention and he is not very excitable. The only drawback is that due to my working full-time and having a family, I'm not sure I could dedicate the time required to having him trained and working with him. (BTW there is an organization in my area that trains wellness cats as well as wellness dogs.)

As someone with severe asthma allergy to dogs, which antihistines do not prevent reactions to, I would not be good with this.

Ps dying of an asthma attack is a reason not to do it

It is indeed Maddening! Presumably before deciding to introduce such an animal the school would adequately risk assess it - and if you were a pupil there not do it, if the risk could not be contained.