Printer Friendly Version - 'PAWS-itivity' Celebrated at Branford High School

One of eight pet therapy teams, handler Howard Taylor and licensed therapy dogs Chief and Miley, arrive for the April 29 celebration of National Pet Therapy Day held by PAWS at Branford High School.Photo by Cheryl Claise

April 29 Event Thanks Pet Therapy Teams Offering Student Support

May, 2018: In an ongoing effort to provide support and interventions to our students, Branford High School (BHS) has a PAWsitively exciting way to assist our students by offering periods of low stress, relaxation time during their self-directed study.

A section of the BHS Career Center has been reconfigured to serve as a "Practice the PAWS" area where students and staff can relax in a calming environment, voluntarily interact individually or in small groups with certified therapy dog teams while listening to soothing music, mindfully color, consider random acts of kindness, and/or think positive thoughts. In keeping with the spirit of the initiative, the name stems from the following mindful poem: Practice the Pause.When in doubt, pause; when angry, pause; when tired, pause; when worried, pause, and when you pause, just breathe.

Many research studies have highlighted specific benefits that mindfulness and animal-assisted activity have on educators and students.　 Specifically, empirical evidence has shown that mindfulness and therapy dogs can enhance social, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive development, including increased empathy, connectivess, emotion regulation, and self-control, decreased anxiety, depression, worry, and rumination, and improved academic achievement in students, due to improved ability to focus and sustain attention.

Eight pet therapy teams visit during specific times on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. To celebrate National Pet Therapy Appreciation Day, a luncheon was held April 29 to acknowledge the students, staff, and therapy dog teams. While the people enjoyed delicious cupcakes, the dogs noshed homemade biscuits, both supplied by the BHS Culinary Arts classes. Dogs were presented with a BHS PAWS handkerchief and their handlers a BHS pen in appreciation of all that they do.

While the people enjoyed delicious cupcakes and desserts decorated with "dog biscuits," the dogs noshed on homemade biscuits (not shown here), both supplied by the Culinary Arts classes at Branford High School.Photo by Cheryl Claise

Licensed therapy dogs Miley and Chief demostrate the appeal of pet therapy during a National Pet Therapy celebration of BHS PAWS April 29.Photo by Cheryl Claise

Dogs were presented with a BHS PAWS handkerchief (and their handlers a BHS pen) in appreciation of all that they do. Photo by Cheryl Claise