Pawsitive Change: Why Therapy Dogs Deserve a Bigger Role in Our Schools
Can spending time with a dog truly benefit someone’s mental health? For many people the answer is yes, it can. In Leonia High School, bringing in therapy dogs has become a tradition during midterms and finals week. Students are able to sign up to spend time with these therapy dogs during flex in order to help reduce the stress that comes along with testing. Therapy dogs have been shown to be very useful when it comes to increasing happiness and easing the weight of anxiety. But should Therapy dogs stay as something that is only available during midterms or finals or should they be able to come in more often?
High School senior Maia Boyd who has a dog herself at home gave her insight on whether or not she believes that therapy dogs should come in more often rather than just coming before midterms or finals. “Yes I think if they came in more often it would be extremely beneficial,” she said.
In a follow-up, Maia was asked if she felt that therapy dogs benefit only anxious students, or they do help everyone. “I believe therapy dogs benefit everyone. Even if you don’t have mental or emotional obstacles, therapy dogs bring a sense of tranquility and joy that a lot of people, especially those who might not have pets, don’t get. I think they’re super beneficial and useful!” She said.
Many students have expressed how much they enjoy spending time with these therapy dogs and how they truly believe they have benefited from having the opportunity to spend time with them but others feel that therapy dogs only have an impact on people who suffer from mental health issues.
Psychology and AP Research teacher, Ms. Seavers, gave her personal opinions on having therapy dogs at LHS days before midterms or finals. “Personally I think that having therapy dogs during any stressful times of the year, including before midterms and finals is great for students!” She said.
Throughout the school year students have many responsibilities they have to be able to balance which can lead to an immense amount of stress. For different grades there are many different tests that students have to take throughout the year that could bring an overwhelming feeling and many of these students do not have access at home for mental health resources.
Ms. Seavers was later asked, as a psychology teacher, if she felt that therapy dogs actually help students or if their impact is overrated. She replied, “Research shows that interactions with therapy dogs trigger an impact on our body’s hormone responses in stressful situations so the impact is definitely not overrated. Interacting with therapy dogs stimulates release of oxytocin, the bonding or “love hormone” that helps facilitate our ability to form social attachments and decreases levels of cortisol or the stress hormone. This can result in students feeling a sense of comfort and relaxation.”
Therapy dogs can be incredibly beneficial for mental health and would be an incredible addition for times during the school year other than midterms and finals week.
