Therapy Dog Pays Call on Unit 40 Board

Therapy dogs are a regular part of Monday and Wednesday mornings at Effingham High School.

(SAY HELLO TO "DUKE", ONE OF THE THERAPY DOGS UTILIZED AT EFFINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL)

The program is overseen by Mary Jo Tucker, the retired County Search and Rescue Director who utilizes dogs in the effort. The program at the high school, though, is a lot different than search and rescue; it's goal there, Tucker says, is "sharing smiles and joys." 

Unit 40 school board members got to meet "Duke", one of the therapy dogs used in the program, at their meeting this month. These aren't service dogs, who work one-on-one with individuals.

The program was organized by the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, homebased in Wyoming. The dogs greet students as they arrive between 7:15 and 8am. Some students have told EHS Principal Kurt Roberts that the dogs have been a welcome addition, and have affected their lives in a positive way. The interaction with the dogs has led some students to share some things they're dealing with that they might not have opened up about, otherwise.

Tucker said they have handlers coming from 30 and 40 miles away to help as handlers, and many of those are retired teachers. She said seven teams are working right now, and that number could grow to 10. 

Tucker said she would like to see the program expand to other buildings in the district.