On Wednesday, March 6, 2024, a remedy canine named Marlowe got here to the Downtown Berkeley Public Library. Marlowe, a Cavalier King Charles, is a canine with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs Foundation. Established in 1990, the inspiration has amenities positioned all throughout America. Marlowe’s go to consisted of many cuddles and a big crop of Berkeley High School college students sitting within the teen middle on the library.
At round 4:00 p.m., Marlowe entered the teenager room and was greeted with overwhelming love. A couple of minutes later, everybody had gotten an opportunity to pet him. As she was cuddling with Marlowe, Katherine Howarth, a BHS freshman, stated, “I feel very emotionally supported, and I really feel like the dog can feel what I’m feeling.” Everyone was informed they may elevate up the canine and maintain him. Additionally, a bag of treats was handed round, and Marlowe did a number of methods, together with mendacity down and sitting with the incentivization of treats.
This occasion was despatched out a complete of seven instances in electronic mail bulletins and was publicized within the bulletin on the day of the occasion. The librarians on the downtown library, Heather Cummins and her colleague, organized the occasion. “We reached out to the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, and we basically set up a profile as an organization that wanted to work with them,” Cummins stated.
Jeff Simon, a employee on the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, was there to oversee Marlowe. When talking on the subject of remedy dogs, Simon stated, “We train and visit places with therapy dogs. Hospitals, places like this, kids and adults, anyone who needs some sort of pet therapy.” Therapy dogs can usually be seen as emotional assist and may also help when visiting locations like hospitals and colleges with a purpose to assist folks in want.
“I think, as you can see, people get really calm around therapy dogs. (Marlowe) visits a lot of sick kids, and they just seem to perk up when he’s there, I think he just gives them a sense of compassion,” Simon stated.
This theme of compassion was felt by individuals. “I feel really good because it brought a real sense of happiness into the room, and I think it helped a lot of students,” Lila Dooley, a BHS freshman who attended the occasion, stated.
“I think he can be supportive and help calm people down and be able to take a break and just pet the dogs,” Ava Schumaker, a BHS freshman, stated.
