The four-legged visitor sparked an animated classroom conversation about pets among the third graders at Manchester Elementary Middle School (MEMS). One student observed, “Whenever I’m feeling sad, my dog comes running to me for a ‘lick attack’ on my face.”
The instigator of this joyful discussion is a three and a half year old therapy dog named Little Bear. Since early October, she has been making weekly check-ins at MEMS to lift spirits and engage with students.
“Dogs can bring out the best of us,” said MEMS special educator Jessica Kuzmich. “Research shows that therapy dogs can create a caring environment for children, especially those in need of an extra boost to help them connect to the world around them.”
A therapy dog is different from a service dog, who is instructed to perform tasks for people with specific disabilities, such as blindness or deafness. A therapy dog is trained to provide comfort, support, and love to patients in hospitals, residents of nursing homes, school children, and people in need. They help make the world a better place.
After studying the research, Kuzmich reached out to Therapy Dogs of Vermont (TDV) for help in finding an animal who might be available for students at MEMS. “I was most interested in having a therapy dog who could help children read,” says Kuzmich. “Many youngsters would rather read to a dog because a dog builds excitement for reading, improves the skill of reading and increases confidence.”
Enter the warm-eyed, judgment-free Little Bear and her owner/trainer Sandra Hamm of Manchester.
Hamm rescued the Labrador/Flat-Coated Retriever mix as a six month puppy. A former teacher, Hamm learned about the benefits of a therapy dog while taking obedience classes with her new pooch. After witnessing first-hand Little Bear’s easy-going disposition, Hamm contacted TDV for her pup to be certified as a therapy dog.
“Dogs need a job,” said Hamm. “Just like us, they want something to do.”
Little Bear’s weekly trip to MEMS starts with a formal welcome by the student greeter for the day. On her most recent visit, Little Bear was met at the front door and walked amiably down the hallway with her greeter to meet a second child for a reading of the book, “A Friend Like You.”
The second stop on the agenda was the visit to the third grade classroom for a formal introduction that led to a group discussion on pets. But first, there was a housecleaning issue to clarify.
“I have a question,” said one concerned student as Little Bear stepped on the classroom rug. “Is she potty-trained?”
Maybe it was the presence of Little Bear, complete with a never-ending slow wagging tail, but the students all joined in on the discussion. They raised their hands to speak, listened to each speaker respectfully, and revealed a wide range of experiences with dogs and pets at home.
With her classroom work completed for the day, Little Bear started her journey back to the front door of the school. Along the way she met students and staff who stopped to say hello and offer a pat on the back.
Kuzmich summed up Little Bear’s magic: “When Little Bear visits, smiles break-out everywhere.”
(Manchester is always in need of therapy dogs. If you are interested in training your pet to be a therapy dog, please contact Therapy Dogs of Vermont at TherapyDogs.org.)
(Photo above: Little Bear meets with third graders during her weekly visit to MEMS.)
The MEMS student greeter reads Little Bear the book titled "A Friend Like You."
Little Bear unleashes smiles as she moves through the hallways at MEMS.
Sandra Hamm (left) and Little Bear meet with students and staff in the reading room.