What are the goals of a therapy dog program in a school? While therapy dogs have been used fairly widely in recent years for reading enhancement, a therapy dog program can contribute much more. Here is a summary of the areas where the proper use of therapy dogs in a school setting can contribute significantly and help to achieve important goals in student development: + Dogs can assist counselors working with students who have anger management issues, bullying behavior and other anti-social conduct. GOAL: Increase empathy/compassion. * Dogs can assist counselors with students who are victims of bullying and related behaviors. GOAL: Decrease retaliatory violence and improve self-esteem. + Dogs can assist counselors with students who are socially disconnected from the mainstream student body. GOAL: Help the student stay connected with social networks. * Dogs can help in the reduction of stress and anxiety among children in social settings that are stressful: GOAL: Reduce anxiety levels and help children to decompress after traumatic circumstances. * Dogs can contribute to the improvement of reading and comprehension skills of students having difficulties. GOAL: Improve reading skills, comprehension and increase confidence and literary interest. * Integrating trained therapy dogs into the emergency preparedness and response plans of a school system when a critical incident occurs can have major benefits. GOAL: Lessen the emotional trauma of a critical incident/event for students, teachers and staff. Links to the policies | used to draft a DE school policy http://www fortcalhounschools.org/wp-content/uploads/5061-Theray http://publicschools.manchesterct.gov/uploaded/District_Office/Policies/6000/6213.pdf2/6/18 Draft 930 L 1. ml. Dover-Eyota Public Schools Policy 930 ‘THERAPY DOGS PURPOSE, The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for the use of therapy dogs in the Dover-Eyota Public Schools. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY ‘The school district supports the use of therapy dogs for the benefit of its students subject to the conditions of this policy. A, Benefits from working or visiting with a therapy dog include reduced stress, improved physical and emotional well-being, lower blood pressure, decreased anxiety, improved self-esteem and normalization of the environment, increasing the likelthood of successful academic achievement by the student, B, Animal Assisted Activities and Animal Assisted Interactions are non-goal-driven interactions here the specific content of the visit is spontaneous and is meant to provide motivational, educational and/or recreational activities that enhance the quality of life. Examples of activities that students may engage in with a therapy dog include petting and/or ‘hugging the dog, speaking to the dog, giving the dog simple commands that the dog is trained to respond to and reading to the dog, DEFINITIONS . ‘A. “Animal Assisted Therapy” is a goal-driven intervention which is directed and/or delivered by @ health, human or education service professional and is meant to improve physical, social, ‘emotional and/or cognitive functioning of an individual, “Therapy Dog” is a dog who has been individually trained, evaluated and registered with his/her handler to provide animal assisted activities, animal assisted therapy and animal assisted interactions within a school or other facility. Therapy dogs are not "emotional support animals" or animals” as that term is used in the American with Disabilities Act. The dog must be well behaved and have a temperament that is suitable for inferaction with students and others in a public school, A “Handler” is an individual school district staff member or volunteer who owns a therapy dog and ‘who has beon individually trained, evaluated and registered with his/her therapy dog to provide ‘animal assisted activities, animal assisted therapy and animal assisted interactions within a school or other facility. A therapy dog is the personal property ofthe handler and is not the property of ‘the school district, The handler shall assume full responsibility for the therapy dog's supervision, care (including any feeding, exercising, and clean up), behavior and suitability for interacting with students and others in the school while the therapy dog is on school district property. The schoo! district is not responsible for providing any care, supervision, or assistance for a therapy dog ‘THERAPY DOG STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES The following requirements must be satisfied before a therapy dog willbe allowed in school buildings or on school district property A. Request— A handler who wants to bring a therapy dog to school must submit a written request form to a prinefpal or superintendent, The request must be renewed each school year or whenever a different therapy dog will be used. B, Training and Certification ~ The handler must submit the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen Certification or its equivalent as determined by the Superintendent. The certification must remain current at all times C. Health and Vaccination — The therapy dog must be clean, well groomed, in good health, house broken, and immunized against diseases common to dogs, The handler must submit proof of 1Cross References: ccurrent licensure from the local licensing authority and proof of the therapy dog's current vaccinations and immunizations from a licensed veterinarian, Control ~ A therapy dog must be under the control of the teacher or school employee through the use of a leash or by voice commands. The therapy dog must be under the handler’s control (or the hhandler’s designee) at all times, Identification ~ The therapy dog must have appropriate identification identifying it as @ therapy dog. No Disruption ~The therapy dog must not disrupt the educational process by barking, seeking, attention, or any other behavior. Health and Safety — The therapy dog must not pose a health and safety risk to any student, employee, or other person at school. Supervision and Care of Therapy dogs ~ The handler is solely responsible for the supervision and care of the therapy dog, including any feeding, exercising, and clean up while the animal is in 1a school building or on school property. The school distrit is not responsible for providing any care, supervision, or assistance for a therapy dog, ‘Authorized Area(s) ‘The handler shall only allow the therapy dog to bein areas in schoo! buildings or on school property that are authorized by school district administrators. Insurance ~The handler must submit a copy of an insurance policy that provides liability coverage for the therapy dog while on school property. Authorized Area(s) ~"The handler shall only allow the therapy dog to be in areas in school buildings or on school property that are authorized by school district administrators. Allergic Reaetions/Allergies and Aversions —If any student or school employee assigned to a classroom in which a therapy dog is permitted suffers an allergic reaction tothe therapy dog, the handler of the animal will be required to remove the animal toa different location designated by an administrator. The handler shall remove the therapy dog to a separate area as designated by the schoo! administrator in such instances where any student or school employee who suffers dog allergies or aversions is present in an office, hallway or classroom. Insurance ~The handler must submit a copy of an insurance policy that provides liability coverage forthe therapy dog while on school property. Exelusion or Removal from School ~ A therapy dog may be excluded from school property and buildings if school administrator determines that: 1 A handler does not have control of the therapy dog; ‘The therapy dog is not housebroken; ‘The therapy dog presents a direct and immediate threat to others in the school; ‘The animal’s presence otherwise interferes with the educational process; or ‘The animal poses a health and safety risk to any student, employee, or other person at school. The handler shall be required to remove the therapy dog from school premises immediately upon such a determination Damages to School Property and Injuries ~The handler of a therapy dog is solely responsible and liable for any damage to school property or injury to personnel, students, or others caused by the therapy dog. ‘Therapy dog in Training — This policy shall also be applicable to therapy dogs in training that are accompanied by a bona fide trainer.Dover-Eyota Public Schools Annual Request to Use a Therapy Dog in School ‘The Board of Education Policy 930 governs the use of therapy dogs in schools. The request shall be submitted for the Superintendent of Schools (or Designee) for approval each school year and/or whenever the handler wishes to use a different therapy dog, Name of Handler: Date: Handler Address: Handler Phone #: Name of Dog: Handler Email: School where dog will be used! Please describe, in detail, what the dog will do at the school? Please attach the following to this form: ‘© Appropriate identification identifying it as @ therapy dog, ‘+ Proof of registration as a therapy dog handler with the individual therapy dog to be used. (Note: Such registration shall be from an organization that requires an evaluation of the therapy dog and handler prior to registration and at least every 2 years.) ‘+ Proof from a licensed veterinarian that the therapy dog is in good health and has been immunized against diseases common to dogs. Such vaccinations shall be kept current and up to date all times. ‘Proof of license from the local dog licensing authority. ‘* Copy of an insurance policy that provides liability coverage for the work of the handler and therapy dog while the two are on school district property. + American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen Certification or its equivalent as determined by the Superintendent. Handler's Signature Date Principal's Signature Date Superintendent's (or Designee’s Signature) Date ‘This annual request expires on (Date)