Dogs are motivating North Van kids to come to school

BY NICK LABA NORTH SHORE NEWS

One day, a student at Mountainside Secondary went to the counsellor’s office when he was feeling low. Dervish, the certified assistance dog, seemed to understand this.

"He came on the couch and rested his head in my arm, fell asleep,” the student said. “That really helped me calm down.”

Other kids share the same sentiment. Walking through the halls, students naturally come to greet and pat Dervish. Some call him a “good vibes dog.”

Attendance enforced by mainstream schools can be a barrier for some students, and isn’t required of the roughly 120 kids at Mountainside.

While social pressures and a structured learning environment can be deterrents, dogs are often a reason to go.

Most canines can be a comforting presence, but Dervish belongs to a relatively new class of service dogs trained to be a support in schools or other settings where multiple people require care.

Dervish has been trained by Pacific Assistance Dogs Society to help children with extra support needs in schools.

While he’s attentive and quickly obeys a number of commands, Dervish’s core skill set involves self-control and his ability to connect with students.

“He provides an opportunity for students to feel safe, calm and grounded, in terms of just being close to him,” said Mary Sparks, a counsellor at Mountainside.

Sparks applied to receive a facility dog a few years ago, after hearing