WESTFIELD — Once a month, a gaggle of canine homeowners carry their pets to Westfield Middle School. They’re not atypical dogs, however specifically educated remedy dogs.
These distinctive four-legged guests spend about two hours each third Friday with seventh and eighth graders. They’ve been educated to work as remedy dogs by volunteers from the native chapter of the Love on a Leash program.
Love on a Leash, a charitable nonprofit organization, is devoted to offering an avenue for volunteer groups to “engage in meaningful and productive pet therapy.” It was began within the Nineteen Eighties by pet remedy fans with a mission to “bring comfort, happiness and healing” to individuals.
Karoline Kells, the varsity’s assistant principal, mentioned the dogs started visiting the varsity in spring 2023. A bunch of seventh graders had taken a discipline journey to Westfield State University, the place Love on a Leash volunteers had been collaborating in an exercise with faculty college students.
“Our teachers came back raving about how wonderful it was for the college students and their classes to spend time with the dogs,” she mentioned.
“When they’re in our school, the volume of voices is lower and the calmer behavior keeps the dogs from becoming scared,” mentioned Kells. “They remain calm, which in turn calms the kids.”
Kells mentioned she’s seen some clear advantages from the dogs’ visits. Some Westfield Middle School college students who battle with social and emotional regulation have interaction with the dogs in a relaxed method.
“They often sit quietly and pet the dogs. The dogs will put their heads on the kids’ laps and just chill. Our teachers fully support of this program,” she mentioned.
The dogs go to on Fridays, as a result of it offers college students and employees one thing to look ahead to throughout the week, and the time additionally works properly for Love on a Leash volunteers.
The variety of dogs that come to go to differ from three to as many as 10, relying on the schedule of the dogs’ homeowners, who come from the Westfield and Northampton space in addition to the Hilltowns.
Westfield resident Leslie Pirnie, a volunteer with the Western Massachusetts chapter of Love on a Leash — fashioned in 2016 and headquartered in California — assessments the dogs and helps prepare visits. She mentioned all canine breeds with the fitting temperament can turn into remedy dogs.
“There’s a test dogs must take to see if they have what it takes for therapy work. They need to be at least a year old and have basic obedience skills.” mentioned Pirnie, who runs obedience lessons at her Canine Learning Center in Southwick.
Pirnie mentioned when she sees dogs at her obedience lessons that she thinks would make good remedy dogs, she is going to ask homeowners if they need them examined. There’s no cost for the 19 dogs at present in this system to make visits. Even after dogs are educated, volunteers proceed working with homeowners and their dogs to make sure the canines sustain with the talents they want for remedy work.
In addition to the center college, Pirnie mentioned volunteers have visited different metropolis faculties, together with Franklin Avenue Elementary School, Westfield Intermediate School and St. Mary’s Parish School. Volunteers additionally make visits to space hospitals and nursing houses, and different faculties in Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut.
Teachers enroll their lessons for canine visits and often carry college students to the library, or an outdoor space in hotter months.
“Students take turns petting the dogs, giving them treats and just loving up on them,” mentioned Kells.
Some college students aren’t as comfy interacting with the dogs, however get pleasure from watching from afar.
“Others just love every bit of the interactions — including the drool,” mentioned Kells. For the Dec. 15 go to, Kells mentioned they tried one thing just a little completely different: dogs had been unfold out all through the building with homeowners and their pets walking out and in of school rooms.
“This was a wonderful change, as more kids participated and teachers got a welcome break,” mentioned Kells. When the dogs had been in school rooms, college students listened and had been aware of how you can act round them.
“It was a great day,” she mentioned. “We also kept a few dogs back so counselors could bring specific students to the library for some needed one-on-one time with the dogs.” Kells mentioned this system is so standard that she’s at all times getting emails “begging” for extra visits and asking for the varsity to have its personal remedy canine.
“Our school is so fortunate to work with Love on a Leash volunteers. These are lovely people who bring their well-trained pets to our school. When you’re having a tough day, it’s made better by the love of a dog.”
