Latest news with #therapyDog
CBC
5 days ago
- General
- CBC
Rusty the therapy dog has become a ‘little star' — and welcome sight — at an evacuation centre in Carbonear
Darren Squires makes the hour-long drive from his home in Old Pelican to volunteer at Carbonear Academy, one of the sites available for evacuated residents. Squires told the CBC's Henrike Wilhelm that his therapy dog, Rusty, is the one that seems to be offering the real boost to people.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bexley school pup who captured kids' hearts wins UK School Dog of Year
A school in Bexley has been celebrating a very special member of its team - a Norwich Terrier named Achilles - after he was crowned UK School Dog of the Year in a national competition. Danson Primary School's much-loved canine support assistant took the top prize at the National School Dog Alliance's awards, run in partnership with a parliamentary group dedicated to dog welfare and their role in supporting vulnerable children. Achilles, who was trained through Canine Assisted Learning, beat entries from across the country to be named the nation's best school dog during a ceremony in Westminster on Wednesday (July 3). Achilles outside Danson Primary School (Image: Danson Primary School) Co-Head teacher Mrs Anne Allen, who returned from retirement to lead the school three and a half years ago, described the win as a proud and surreal moment. She told the News Shopper: 'Achilles was asleep under the chair when they announced him. 'I had to wake him up to take his prize. 'It's still a bit of a shock, to be perfectly honest.' Mrs Allen explained that Achilles wasn't originally brought into the school as a therapy or support dog. In fact, when she agreed to return as headteacher, she had just got the tiny puppy with her husband and said she wouldn't come back unless he could come too. She explained: 'There were no plans for Achilles to be a support assistant dog as he was so tiddly we didn't think he would make much of an impact. 'But he captured the hearts of the children and the staff. MP Louie French and Danson Primary students (Image: Danson Primary School) 'We decided to then make it more official, and the governors gave him a job.' Since then, Achilles has become an essential part of school life. From greeting children at the gates to supporting pupils with social and emotional needs, his impact has gone far beyond expectations. He holds a bronze award as a school assistance dog and is currently working towards his silver. One of Achilles' most visible roles is in helping the school tackle post-COVID attendance issues - something Danson Primary has been actively addressing. The awards ceremony (Image: Danson Primary School) Mrs Allen said: 'One of the things we focused on heavily in the last year is that since post-COVID, the attendance in schools has really reduced for a range of reasons. 'It takes such a long time to get attendance back, but this is a start with Achilles.' Achilles helps celebrate good attendance by handing out weekly awards and certificates. The class with the best attendance even gets a framed photo with him - something the pupils look forward to with pride. The ceremony in Westminster was a big moment for both Achilles and the school. After being shortlisted just over a month ago, staff and pupils travelled to Parliament where schools presented on the impact of their dogs before the winner was announced. Mrs Allen explained: 'It was a big event. 'There were lots of ministers there. There was a Lord who'd shown us around and did part of the presentation. 'We were lucky because our MP Louie French was there, and he took us around the Houses of Parliament.' Unlike many of the other entrants - mostly Labradors, Retrievers, and Spaniels - Achilles stood out as a much smaller breed. 'I think it's so unusual for an actual terrier to be a school dog', Mrs Allen added, 'he was the smallest one there - and he won.' Achilles also supports individual children dealing with anxiety, bereavement, and even phobias of dogs. On Friday afternoons, he spends time one-on-one with selected pupils, who walk or talk with him, or simply sit and cuddle. Achilles is a staple member of the staff at Danson (Image: Danson Primary School) 'Just literally him being at the gate, around the school, it just brightens up children's days', Mrs Allen told the News Shopper. Mrs Allen added: 'We've had so many lovely messages from parents and the community because it's gone on Facebook. 'We're really, really proud - and it's a great thing for the school as well.'
BBC News
01-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Three-legged dog is posthumous Make A Difference Awards finalist
A therapy dog, who was a regular at a local library before passing away recently, is a finalist in the BBC Radio Suffolk Make a Difference the three-legged greyhound, worked as a therapy dog in Framlingham library where he was described as "a beacon of comfort and support" to young Peter Willis said: "He had the best, most fulfilling life a dog could have and made a difference to the lives of many children along the way."Charlie was selected by judges as one of four finalists for the Animal Award, along with Peter Merchant, who helps rehabilitate birds of prey, the online community group Finding Dogs in Ipswich and Gill Lewis who helps rehome unwanted pets. The Make a Difference Awards are run by BBC Local radio stations and started in Hill, who is visually impaired, volunteers for groups and mentors people. "The world needs more people like Grace," said her nomination for the Volunteer Arron and Chris Bailey are also finalists, having taken Santa out to visit children at their homes who were unable to go and see him elsewhere. They also make hampers for nurses and gifts for new mothers still in hospital at Tieck, who runs This is Ipswich social media accounts, was nominated for amplifying stories about metal health, food banks and community nomination said that "to know Sarah is to have someone believe in you, this is the energy that will save the world".Max Thomas, from the Ipswich Windrush Society, founded the reflection room in the Sailmakers shopping centre which is open all year. COMMUNITY AWARD: The Caribbean & African Community Health Support Forum, Future Female Society, Suffolk Refugee Support Sewing Group and Memory Lane Café.FUNDRAISER AWARD: Project 7, Pop Chorus, Maria Layton and John AWARD: Jackie Orbell, Deben Climate Centre, Edible Felixstowe and Saxmundham Community AWARD: Harrison Mayhew-Kemp, Mike McCarthy, Edgar Miller and Trudy NEIGHBOUR AWARD: Doreen Savage, Wendy Aiken, Joanne Stuckey and Rosemary HERO: Ozzy Rayner and Georgia Biggs. Interviews with each finalist will be broadcast on BBC Radio Suffolk over the summer, with the winners announced at a ceremony at Trinity Park on 17 September. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Students fundraising for their own therapy dog
Students are raising funds to put their teacher's new puppy through therapy dog training. Nellie the cockapoo is working towards a qualification which will allow her to provide support for children and staff at Ovingham Middle School in Northumberland. Assistant headteacher Sarah McHugh said she had seen pupils needing more support over the last few years due to a variety of factors, but that they were more in touch with their emotions and able to articulate those. "I have always wanted a dog myself and what better to give the dog a really nice home with me but also be part of the community?" she said. Students had been pondering what Nellie's working day might look like, Miss McHugh said. Some had suggested they could take her on walks in the village during lunch or visit her to get settled during the day. Miss McHugh said in recent years everyone's emotional literacy had evolved and she had observed her students were "more confident" in asking for extra support. "I think they're just more aware now and telling us that they need some extra help to regulate their emotions," she said. She said Nellie's presence would make school "a bit more inviting and engaging, but also a safer space for them". Both Miss McHugh and Nellie have to undergo months of training for the accreditation, which will cost £4,500 in total. An assessment will look for Nellie's ability to respond to commands, but also see if she has empathy and can recognise body language cues in people. The children have got behind her journey by holding cake sales and non-uniform day fundraisers. They also held a competition to design Nellie's neckerchief for when she comes to the school full-time from December. Miss McHugh said: "Staff say they are really keen to work with Nellie and have her in some of the classrooms. "Maybe for the star-of-the-lesson to come and spend some time with her, but also just to have her there as a bit of a comfort." With a limited school budget, staff decided the best option was to fundraise as the training would solely be used for school-based interventions for the 350 pupils there. Miss McHugh bought Nellie herself and also pays for her vet bills, health insurance and day-to-day costs, like food. There is no government funding earmarked solely for therapy dogs. If a staff member or pupil was allergic to dogs they did not have to be in close proximity to Nellie, Miss McHugh said, and risk assessments had been carried out. When Nellie is in school full time, she will also follow timetable and there will be signs to mark she is present in a room. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Hero the therapy dog helps children at school Meet therapy dog Bella, who has helped 3,000 teens Dogs having a 'phenomenal' effect on patients
BBC News
26-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Ovingham students fundraise for their own therapy dog Nellie
Students are raising funds to put their teacher's new puppy through therapy dog the cockapoo is working towards a qualification which will allow her to provide support for children and staff at Ovingham Middle School in headteacher Sarah McHugh said she had seen pupils needing more support over the last few years due to a variety of factors, but that they were more in touch with their emotions and able to articulate those."I have always wanted a dog myself and what better to give the dog a really nice home with me but also be part of the community?" she said. Students had been pondering what Nellie's working day might look like, Miss McHugh had suggested they could take her on walks in the village during lunch or visit her to get settled during the McHugh said in recent years everyone's emotional literacy had evolved and she had observed her students were "more confident" in asking for extra support."I think they're just more aware now and telling us that they need some extra help to regulate their emotions," she said Nellie's presence would make school "a bit more inviting and engaging, but also a safer space for them". Both Miss McHugh and Nellie have to undergo months of training for the accreditation, which will cost £4,500 in assessment will look for Nellie's ability to respond to commands, but also see if she has empathy and can recognise body language cues in children have got behind her journey by holding cake sales and non-uniform day also held a competition to design Nellie's neckerchief for when she comes to the school full-time from McHugh said: "Staff say they are really keen to work with Nellie and have her in some of the classrooms."Maybe for the star-of-the-lesson to come and spend some time with her, but also just to have her there as a bit of a comfort." With a limited school budget, staff decided the best option was to fundraise as the training would solely be used for school-based interventions for the 350 pupils McHugh bought Nellie herself and also pays for her vet bills, health insurance and day-to-day costs, like is no government funding earmarked solely for therapy a staff member or pupil was allergic to dogs they did not have to be in close proximity to Nellie, Miss McHugh said, and risk assessments had been carried Nellie is in school full time, she will also follow timetable and there will be signs to mark she is present in a room. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
