Dog visits at Davis and Lane elementary schools are eagerly anticipated.
Their presence is therapeutic for students and staff alike.According to the National Institutes of Health, dogs are credited wiht “supporting students’ well-being, promoting a sense of belonging in school, reducing stress and anxiety and even facilitating learning.” The trend has become popular for all ages, even at the collage level, where they are especially helpful around exam time.
Lyric visits Davis School on a regular basis.The yellow Labrador retriever’s wagging tail is indicative of her happiness to be surrounded by attention. Lyric’s “mom,” Ruth Ladd, finds it “incredibly rewarding to see how much happiness she brings.”
Ladd has raised Lyric from puppyhood. She has experience raising dogs,working as a puppy trainer for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, an organization assisting the visually impaired.She gets puppies from the nonprofit at two to four months of age and keeps them until they are 15 to 18 months old, socializing and housebreaking them. To date,she has raised 20 puppies for the organization.
Lyric began visiting Davis three years ago. Her visits take several different forms. Sometimes children visit in pairs or in small groups. What they do is up to them. Some children like to read to Lyric, who always listens attentively. Other children like to pat Lyric or ask questions to learn more about her. Still oth# Canine Comfort: Therapy Dogs Bring Joy to Bedford Schools
Bedford’s schools are benefiting from the calming presence of certified therapy dogs. At Davis School, Lyric, a five-year-old Goldendoodle, visits weekly with her owner, Sarah Campbell. Principal Sara Ahern noted that Lyric’s visits are a highlight for students and staff alike, providing a welcome break and a boost in morale.
“The kids absolutely adore her,” Ahern said.”It’s a really nice opportunity for them to de-stress and connect with a gentle animal.”
Lyric’s training and certification come from Dogs Building Opportunities for Nurturing and Emotional Support (Dog B.O.N.E.S.), a local nonprofit dedicated to evaluating and certifying therapy dog teams. Founded in 2002, Dog B.O.N.E.S.connects certified teams with facilities and individuals who can benefit from their visits, aiming to “bring a little fun into someone’s day.”
Campbell explained that Lyric has a naturally calm and friendly disposition, making her well-suited for school visits. “She loves people and is very patient with the kids,” Campbell said. “She just seems to know when someone needs a little extra comfort.”
Meanwhile, across town at the Lane school, Mark Wagner visits weekly with his Bernese mountain dog, Willow. Willow began visiting Lane in 2022. Staff frequently enough refer to this as their therapy time as well as a time for their students to unwind.As for Wagner, he said, “she does the magic; I just drive.”
Willow has therapy dog certification from local nonprofit Dogs Building Opportunities for Nurturing and Emotional Support,more commonly referred to as Dog B.O.N.E.S. Founded in 2002 to “evaluate and certify family owned pets and their human companions, take requests from facilities and individuals who would benefit from visits, and then assist our therapy dog teams in making those connections,” the mission was simply “to bring a little fun into someone’s day as they recuperate, rehabilitate, or simply live life.” Like Lyric, Willow’s gentle temperament makes her a fit for the school interaction. She is friendly and thrives on the attention that the students excitedly give her.
Wagner shares that the children are exceptionally thrilled when Willow obeys their commands to sit or shake paw.
Lane School volunteer Erin Campbell accompanies Wagner and Willow while they spend time at the school.prior to a first visit with a class, either Wagner or Campbell will provide an overview of Willow for the class.
“Erin does a great job with the kids; she knows how to interact,” Wagner said of Campbell. “Bedford is lucky to have her as a volunteer.”
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