Dogs In Schools & Work Sites Could Expand
-
Share on Facebook
-
Share on Bluesky
-
Share on X
- Copy Link
Using dogs in schools and workplaces as part of animal assisted interventions is becoming more common in Canada.
The Vernon School District has provided a grant to several teachers to research the issue, including Special Education teacher Nicole Stewart who uses her 2 year old Cairn Terrier ‘Kona’ in classes at the Alternate School every day.
“She helps kids with decreasing their stress levels, their anxiety. She’s brought countless numbers of kids into our building. They’re typically kids that are in alternate programs because schools haven’t worked well for them. She’s also really motivating for academics. She helps kids with their literacy, their numeracy skills, their attention, their listening,” Stewart tells CJIB News.
Teacher Andrea Melnyk also uses a dog in the resource room at Vernon Secondary, her golden retriever ‘Honey.’
