SOCIAL WELFARE Connecticut’s Best Friends New Canaan invites dogs to school
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or thousands of years, dogs have been our beloved companions. They have helped us in the field and in the house – German Shepherds and Rat Terriers, for example – and it’s funny to think of it this way, but many dogs have jobs. One area that all dogs, regardless of breed history, help, is in our hearts. And it’s this ability that has led to the popularity of using certified therapy dogs in all manner of situations. New Canaan Public Schools recently voted to allow dogs to visit local schools. The policy, which simply states that “The New Canaan Public Schools permits the structured use of therapy dogs as a way to support the social-emotional health of students.” It states that only with appropriate certifications and with the permission of the principal and superintendent can dogs visit schools. Dogs and their therapeutic value have been studied for years, and
according to an anecdote accessed from the National Library of Medicine, it has roots in child psychology: “In addition to these working roles, dogs have also been instrumental in supporting humans in other therapeutic ways. In the early 1960s, animal-assisted interventions (AAI) began to evolve with the pioneering work of Boris Levinson, Elizabeth O’Leary Corson, and Samuel Corson. Levinson, a child psychologist practicing since the 1950s, noticed a child who was nonverbal and withdrawn during therapy began interacting with his dog, Jingles, in an unplanned interaction. This experience caused Levinson to begin his pioneering work in creating the foundations for AAI as an adjunct to treatment.” In quotes from a New Canaanite article on the program, it was this kind of scientific background that convinced many of the Board of Education members to vote in
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favor, ultimately winning unanimous approval. Quoted in that article is Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bryan Luizzi who said that a trial run was overwhelmingly popular with both students and teachers, but they were “only doing it about once a month to begin, just to give it a try.” Eventually, if it continues to be successful, they can think of ways to expand the program, which the policy allows. They call dogs “Man’s Best Friend,” but dogs can be everyone’s best friend. Thanks to individuals who have studied these relationships, we know how therapeutic being around a dog can be for a child who is experiencing any number of issues. And thanks to New Canaan Public Schools, there’s now a policy in place for students to relax with rex or spot or fido.
