On November 21, therapy dogs, hosted by Springbrook’s counseling center, visited students for a midday pick-me-up. Trained dogs typically help students reduce their stress levels and maintain a positive mindset. Additionally, these furry friends are a good way to bring people together. According to a study done by Statista in 2022, 74% of people love dogs.
These past few years have been stressful for everyone. The need for new effective solutions is growing and therapy dogs are one of the most effective ones. It’s a simple, easy and effective way to reduce stress and anxiety for students and staff. In addition, furry friends are a good way to bring people together with around 74% of people liking dogs according to the Today Show. Some students have trouble managing emotions like sadness, anger, and frustration which can hinder their academic performance. 
Giving people time with dogs helps them stay mindful by soothing away their big emotions and taking a quiet time to appreciate the adorable animals. When students feel overwhelmed it can affect their memory and concentration making it hard to keep up with school work. Having therapy dogs can boost their academic performance by calming their anxiety and bringing back their confidence allowing them to direct their attention back to their school work. The nonjudgmental companionship that only an animal can bring can help students develop their confidence and motivation.
On top of everything therapy dogs also help foster a positive school environment. Studies have shown that simply having a dog present can brighten a person’s day instantaneously. It encourages students and staff to practice kindness, patience, and empathy so that they can use those skills to foster better relationships with their peers. 
Though the benefits of having dogs in schools is clear there are still some valid concerns that people have including the safety of students with allergies and the welfare of the dogs themselves. In order to keep the kids with allergies safe the dogs can be kept in an area that’s easy to avoid so that the dogs are still easy to spot but also a safe distance away. The welfare of dogs can be maintained by only keeping them in schools for a short time and making sure they are comfortable with the temperature and get enough breaks and treats so that they have a good time meeting new people. Having these adorable and loving animals gives students a reason to look forward to going to school which can lead to better attendance and motivation to get their work done on time.
